used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The correspondent was sitting down, busily engaged in rubbing the sword with a piece of wet rag dipped in sand.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Five yards away a fire burned dully in the sunlight, while across it a large piece of meat was supported on the long ramrods of the Arab guns.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "Killed anything?" asked Hugh laconically, after the customary morning greetings had been exchanged.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Life in the desert is not conducive to good manners, although it may be to good fellowship.
any thing at all
From this reading "Killed anything?" asked Hugh laconically, after the customary morning greetings had been exchanged.
appetizingadjectiveUS /ˈæpɪtaɪzɪŋ/
appealing to or stimulating the appetite especially in appearance or aroma
From this reading The Mirage WHEN the lads awoke on the following morning they were astonished to smell the appetizing odours of roasting meat.
ArabnounUS /ˈærəb/
a member of a Semitic people originally from the Arabian peninsula and surrounding territories who speaks Arabic and who inhabits much of the Middle East and northern Africa
From this reading Five yards away a fire burned dully in the sunlight, while across it a large piece of meat was supported on the long ramrods of the Arab guns.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Killed anything?" asked Hugh laconically, after the customary morning greetings had been exchanged.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading The Mirage WHEN the lads awoke on the following morning they were astonished to smell the appetizing odours of roasting meat.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Five yards away a fire burned dully in the sunlight, while across it a large piece of meat was supported on the long ramrods of the Arab guns.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading The Mirage WHEN the lads awoke on the following morning they were astonished to smell the appetizing odours of roasting meat.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Life in the desert is not conducive to good manners, although it may be to good fellowship.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "Killed anything?" asked Hugh laconically, after the customary morning greetings had been exchanged.
treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point
From this reading Five yards away a fire burned dully in the sunlight, while across it a large piece of meat was supported on the long ramrods of the Arab guns.
busilyadverbUS /ˈbɪzəli/
in a busy manner
From this reading The correspondent was sitting down, busily engaged in rubbing the sword with a piece of wet rag dipped in sand.
conduciveadjectiveUS /kənˈduːsɪv/
tending to bring about; being partly responsible for
From this reading Life in the desert is not conducive to good manners, although it may be to good fellowship.
correspondentnounUS /ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːndənt/
someone who communicates by means of letters
From this reading The correspondent was sitting down, busily engaged in rubbing the sword with a piece of wet rag dipped in sand.
customaryadjectiveUS /ˈkʌstəmeri/
in accordance with convention or custom
From this reading "Killed anything?" asked Hugh laconically, after the customary morning greetings had been exchanged.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading Life in the desert is not conducive to good manners, although it may be to good fellowship.
dippedadjectiveUS /dɪpt/
having abnormal sagging of the spine (especially in horses)
From this reading The correspondent was sitting down, busily engaged in rubbing the sword with a piece of wet rag dipped in sand.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The correspondent was sitting down, busily engaged in rubbing the sword with a piece of wet rag dipped in sand.
dullyadverb
without liveliness
From this reading Five yards away a fire burned dully in the sunlight, while across it a large piece of meat was supported on the long ramrods of the Arab guns.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading The correspondent was sitting down, busily engaged in rubbing the sword with a piece of wet rag dipped in sand.
exchangedadjectiveUS /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒd/
changed for (replaced by) something different
From this reading "Killed anything?" asked Hugh laconically, after the customary morning greetings had been exchanged.
fellowshipnounUS /ˈfeloʊʃɪp/
an association of people who share common beliefs or activities
From this reading Life in the desert is not conducive to good manners, although it may be to good fellowship.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Five yards away a fire burned dully in the sunlight, while across it a large piece of meat was supported on the long ramrods of the Arab guns.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Five yards away a fire burned dully in the sunlight, while across it a large piece of meat was supported on the long ramrods of the Arab guns.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading The Mirage WHEN the lads awoke on the following morning they were astonished to smell the appetizing odours of roasting meat.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Life in the desert is not conducive to good manners, although it may be to good fellowship.
greetingsnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋz/
plural of “greeting” — (usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading "Killed anything?" asked Hugh laconically, after the customary morning greetings had been exchanged.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading Five yards away a fire burned dully in the sunlight, while across it a large piece of meat was supported on the long ramrods of the Arab guns.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Killed anything?" asked Hugh laconically, after the customary morning greetings had been exchanged.
Hugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Killed anything?" asked Hugh laconically, after the customary morning greetings had been exchanged.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The correspondent was sitting down, busily engaged in rubbing the sword with a piece of wet rag dipped in sand.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Life in the desert is not conducive to good manners, although it may be to good fellowship.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Five yards away a fire burned dully in the sunlight, while across it a large piece of meat was supported on the long ramrods of the Arab guns.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading "Killed anything?" asked Hugh laconically, after the customary morning greetings had been exchanged.
laconicallyadverb
in a dry laconic manner
From this reading "Killed anything?" asked Hugh laconically, after the customary morning greetings had been exchanged.
plural of “lad” — a boy or man
From this reading The Mirage WHEN the lads awoke on the following morning they were astonished to smell the appetizing odours of roasting meat.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Five yards away a fire burned dully in the sunlight, while across it a large piece of meat was supported on the long ramrods of the Arab guns.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Life in the desert is not conducive to good manners, although it may be to good fellowship.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Five yards away a fire burned dully in the sunlight, while across it a large piece of meat was supported on the long ramrods of the Arab guns.
social deportment
From this reading Life in the desert is not conducive to good manners, although it may be to good fellowship.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Life in the desert is not conducive to good manners, although it may be to good fellowship.
the flesh of animals (including fishes and birds and snails) used as food
From this reading The Mirage WHEN the lads awoke on the following morning they were astonished to smell the appetizing odours of roasting meat.
MiragenounUS /mərˈɑːʒ/
an optical illusion in which atmospheric refraction by a layer of hot air distorts or inverts reflections of distant objects
From this reading The Mirage WHEN the lads awoke on the following morning they were astonished to smell the appetizing odours of roasting meat.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The Mirage WHEN the lads awoke on the following morning they were astonished to smell the appetizing odours of roasting meat.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Life in the desert is not conducive to good manners, although it may be to good fellowship.
odoursnounUS /ˈoʊdərs/
plural of “odour” — the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading The Mirage WHEN the lads awoke on the following morning they were astonished to smell the appetizing odours of roasting meat.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Mirage WHEN the lads awoke on the following morning they were astonished to smell the appetizing odours of roasting meat.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Mirage WHEN the lads awoke on the following morning they were astonished to smell the appetizing odours of roasting meat.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading The correspondent was sitting down, busily engaged in rubbing the sword with a piece of wet rag dipped in sand.
ragnounUS /ræɡ/
a small piece of cloth or paper
From this reading The correspondent was sitting down, busily engaged in rubbing the sword with a piece of wet rag dipped in sand.
ramrods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five yards away a fire burned dully in the sunlight, while across it a large piece of meat was supported on the long ramrods of the Arab guns.
roastingnounUS /ˈroʊstɪŋ/
cooking (meat) by dry heat in an oven (usually with fat added)
From this reading The Mirage WHEN the lads awoke on the following morning they were astonished to smell the appetizing odours of roasting meat.
rubbingnounUS /ˈrʌbɪŋ/
the resistance encountered when one body is moved in contact with another
From this reading The correspondent was sitting down, busily engaged in rubbing the sword with a piece of wet rag dipped in sand.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading The correspondent was sitting down, busily engaged in rubbing the sword with a piece of wet rag dipped in sand.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading The correspondent was sitting down, busily engaged in rubbing the sword with a piece of wet rag dipped in sand.
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading The Mirage WHEN the lads awoke on the following morning they were astonished to smell the appetizing odours of roasting meat.
the rays of the sun
From this reading Five yards away a fire burned dully in the sunlight, while across it a large piece of meat was supported on the long ramrods of the Arab guns.
supportedadjectiveUS /səˈpɔːrtɪd/
sustained or maintained by aid (as distinct from physical support)
From this reading Five yards away a fire burned dully in the sunlight, while across it a large piece of meat was supported on the long ramrods of the Arab guns.
a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
From this reading The correspondent was sitting down, busily engaged in rubbing the sword with a piece of wet rag dipped in sand.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Mirage WHEN the lads awoke on the following morning they were astonished to smell the appetizing odours of roasting meat.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Mirage WHEN the lads awoke on the following morning they were astonished to smell the appetizing odours of roasting meat.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Mirage WHEN the lads awoke on the following morning they were astonished to smell the appetizing odours of roasting meat.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The correspondent was sitting down, busily engaged in rubbing the sword with a piece of wet rag dipped in sand.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Mirage WHEN the lads awoke on the following morning they were astonished to smell the appetizing odours of roasting meat.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading The correspondent was sitting down, busily engaged in rubbing the sword with a piece of wet rag dipped in sand.
at the time that
From this reading The Mirage WHEN the lads awoke on the following morning they were astonished to smell the appetizing odours of roasting meat.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Five yards away a fire burned dully in the sunlight, while across it a large piece of meat was supported on the long ramrods of the Arab guns.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The correspondent was sitting down, busily engaged in rubbing the sword with a piece of wet rag dipped in sand.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Five yards away a fire burned dully in the sunlight, while across it a large piece of meat was supported on the long ramrods of the Arab guns.
