Chapter VI

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading He sensed the presence of human beings near him, and without changing his position on the cloak he let his right hand slip slowly along his side until it gripped the butt of his pistol.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

in a state of sleep

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing

From this reading He sensed the presence of human beings near him, and without changing his position on the cloak he let his right hand slip slowly along his side until it gripped the butt of his pistol.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

lie adjacent to another or share a boundary

From this reading He sensed the presence of human beings near him, and without changing his position on the cloak he let his right hand slip slowly along his side until it gripped the butt of his pistol.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading And there he remained, trying to pierce the black night with his eyes, ears strained to catch the slightest sound.

marked by continuous change or effective action

From this reading He sensed the presence of human beings near him, and without changing his position on the cloak he let his right hand slip slowly along his side until it gripped the butt of his pistol.

anything that covers or conceals

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

plural of “coal” — fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading And there he remained, trying to pierce the black night with his eyes, ears strained to catch the slightest sound.

the organ of sight

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

opinion or judgment

From this reading And there he remained, trying to pierce the black night with his eyes, ears strained to catch the slightest sound.

start firing a weapon

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

provide with a combustible substance that provides energy

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

an alert and refreshed state

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

inflected form of “grip” — hold fast or firmly

From this reading He sensed the presence of human beings near him, and without changing his position on the cloak he let his right hand slip slowly along his side until it gripped the butt of his pistol.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading He sensed the presence of human beings near him, and without changing his position on the cloak he let his right hand slip slowly along his side until it gripped the butt of his pistol.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He sensed the presence of human beings near him, and without changing his position on the cloak he let his right hand slip slowly along his side until it gripped the butt of his pistol.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He sensed the presence of human beings near him, and without changing his position on the cloak he let his right hand slip slowly along his side until it gripped the butt of his pistol.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

characteristic of humanity

From this reading He sensed the presence of human beings near him, and without changing his position on the cloak he let his right hand slip slowly along his side until it gripped the butt of his pistol.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading He sensed the presence of human beings near him, and without changing his position on the cloak he let his right hand slip slowly along his side until it gripped the butt of his pistol.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

the act of hearing attentively

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

the natural satellite of the Earth

From this reading There was no moon.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading He sensed the presence of human beings near him, and without changing his position on the cloak he let his right hand slip slowly along his side until it gripped the butt of his pistol.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

not any; not one

From this reading There was no moon.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

and nothing more

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

cut or make a way through

From this reading And there he remained, trying to pierce the black night with his eyes, ears strained to catch the slightest sound.

a firearm that is held and fired with one hand

From this reading He sensed the presence of human beings near him, and without changing his position on the cloak he let his right hand slip slowly along his side until it gripped the butt of his pistol.

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading He sensed the presence of human beings near him, and without changing his position on the cloak he let his right hand slip slowly along his side until it gripped the butt of his pistol.

the state of being present; current existence

From this reading He sensed the presence of human beings near him, and without changing his position on the cloak he let his right hand slip slowly along his side until it gripped the butt of his pistol.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

precisely, exactly

From this reading He sensed the presence of human beings near him, and without changing his position on the cloak he let his right hand slip slowly along his side until it gripped the butt of his pistol.

(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

a high-pitched noise resembling a human cry

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues

From this reading He sensed the presence of human beings near him, and without changing his position on the cloak he let his right hand slip slowly along his side until it gripped the butt of his pistol.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading He sensed the presence of human beings near him, and without changing his position on the cloak he let his right hand slip slowly along his side until it gripped the butt of his pistol.

superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some

From this reading And there he remained, trying to pierce the black night with his eyes, ears strained to catch the slightest sound.

move stealthily

From this reading He sensed the presence of human beings near him, and without changing his position on the cloak he let his right hand slip slowly along his side until it gripped the butt of his pistol.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading He sensed the presence of human beings near him, and without changing his position on the cloak he let his right hand slip slowly along his side until it gripped the butt of his pistol.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading And there he remained, trying to pierce the black night with his eyes, ears strained to catch the slightest sound.

distribute or disperse widely

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

lacking natural ease

From this reading And there he remained, trying to pierce the black night with his eyes, ears strained to catch the slightest sound.

(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

possessing sweep

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was no moon.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

hard to endure

From this reading And there he remained, trying to pierce the black night with his eyes, ears strained to catch the slightest sound.

up to a particular time

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

plural of “visitor” — someone who visits

From this reading VISITORS The fire died down for lack of fuel, until only a small bed of coals remained to glow like a great red eye in the black night.

having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading There was no moon.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading The caballero, warm and dry, had spread his cloak on the ground and was stretched upon it, half asleep, listening to the rushing of the creek and the screeching of the wind that swept up the valley from the sea.

in the company of; together with

From this reading And there he remained, trying to pierce the black night with his eyes, ears strained to catch the slightest sound.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading He sensed the presence of human beings near him, and without changing his position on the cloak he let his right hand slip slowly along his side until it gripped the butt of his pistol.