used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A WARNING.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was very small, numbering but about a dozen houses or cabins, and in the center on the hilltop was a small block-house.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was very small, numbering but about a dozen houses or cabins, and in the center on the hilltop was a small block-house.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The settlement, being on a hill, overlooked a fine landscape.
block-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very small, numbering but about a dozen houses or cabins, and in the center on the hilltop was a small block-house.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was very small, numbering but about a dozen houses or cabins, and in the center on the hilltop was a small block-house.
cabinsnounUS /ˈkæbənz/
plural of “cabin” — small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading It was very small, numbering but about a dozen houses or cabins, and in the center on the hilltop was a small block-house.
Cato
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the skirts of Dead-Man’s Forest, on the side opposite to that on which Cato the Creeper lived, was a small settlement on a hillside.
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading The soil about the houses was somewhat cultivated and fenced, but the latter was hardly needed, for the settlers owned but few cattle and these were “kept up,” to protect them from the Indians which infested the country.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading It was very small, numbering but about a dozen houses or cabins, and in the center on the hilltop was a small block-house.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The soil about the houses was somewhat cultivated and fenced, but the latter was hardly needed, for the settlers owned but few cattle and these were “kept up,” to protect them from the Indians which infested the country.
Creepernoun
any plant (as ivy or periwinkle) that grows by creeping
From this reading On the skirts of Dead-Man’s Forest, on the side opposite to that on which Cato the Creeper lived, was a small settlement on a hillside.
cultivatedadjectiveUS /ˈkʌltəveɪtɪd/
(of land or fields) prepared for raising crops by plowing or fertilizing
From this reading The soil about the houses was somewhat cultivated and fenced, but the latter was hardly needed, for the settlers owned but few cattle and these were “kept up,” to protect them from the Indians which infested the country.
Dead-Man's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the skirts of Dead-Man’s Forest, on the side opposite to that on which Cato the Creeper lived, was a small settlement on a hillside.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading It was very small, numbering but about a dozen houses or cabins, and in the center on the hilltop was a small block-house.
fencedverbUS /fenst/
past form of “fence” — enclose with a fence
From this reading The soil about the houses was somewhat cultivated and fenced, but the latter was hardly needed, for the settlers owned but few cattle and these were “kept up,” to protect them from the Indians which infested the country.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The soil about the houses was somewhat cultivated and fenced, but the latter was hardly needed, for the settlers owned but few cattle and these were “kept up,” to protect them from the Indians which infested the country.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading The settlement, being on a hill, overlooked a fine landscape.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The soil about the houses was somewhat cultivated and fenced, but the latter was hardly needed, for the settlers owned but few cattle and these were “kept up,” to protect them from the Indians which infested the country.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading On the skirts of Dead-Man’s Forest, on the side opposite to that on which Cato the Creeper lived, was a small settlement on a hillside.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The soil about the houses was somewhat cultivated and fenced, but the latter was hardly needed, for the settlers owned but few cattle and these were “kept up,” to protect them from the Indians which infested the country.
only a very short time before
From this reading The soil about the houses was somewhat cultivated and fenced, but the latter was hardly needed, for the settlers owned but few cattle and these were “kept up,” to protect them from the Indians which infested the country.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading The settlement, being on a hill, overlooked a fine landscape.
hillsidenounUS /ˈhɪlsaɪd/
the side or slope of a hill
From this reading On the skirts of Dead-Man’s Forest, on the side opposite to that on which Cato the Creeper lived, was a small settlement on a hillside.
hilltopnounUS /ˈhɪltɑːp/
the peak of a hill
From this reading It was very small, numbering but about a dozen houses or cabins, and in the center on the hilltop was a small block-house.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It was very small, numbering but about a dozen houses or cabins, and in the center on the hilltop was a small block-house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was very small, numbering but about a dozen houses or cabins, and in the center on the hilltop was a small block-house.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading The soil about the houses was somewhat cultivated and fenced, but the latter was hardly needed, for the settlers owned but few cattle and these were “kept up,” to protect them from the Indians which infested the country.
infestedverbUS /ˌɪnˈfestɪd/
past form of “infest” — invade in great numbers
From this reading The soil about the houses was somewhat cultivated and fenced, but the latter was hardly needed, for the settlers owned but few cattle and these were “kept up,” to protect them from the Indians which infested the country.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was very small, numbering but about a dozen houses or cabins, and in the center on the hilltop was a small block-house.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The soil about the houses was somewhat cultivated and fenced, but the latter was hardly needed, for the settlers owned but few cattle and these were “kept up,” to protect them from the Indians which infested the country.
landscapenounUS /ˈlændskeɪp/
an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
From this reading The settlement, being on a hill, overlooked a fine landscape.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading The soil about the houses was somewhat cultivated and fenced, but the latter was hardly needed, for the settlers owned but few cattle and these were “kept up,” to protect them from the Indians which infested the country.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading On the skirts of Dead-Man’s Forest, on the side opposite to that on which Cato the Creeper lived, was a small settlement on a hillside.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading The soil about the houses was somewhat cultivated and fenced, but the latter was hardly needed, for the settlers owned but few cattle and these were “kept up,” to protect them from the Indians which infested the country.
numberingnounUS /ˈnʌmbərɪŋ/
a numbered list
From this reading It was very small, numbering but about a dozen houses or cabins, and in the center on the hilltop was a small block-house.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the skirts of Dead-Man’s Forest, on the side opposite to that on which Cato the Creeper lived, was a small settlement on a hillside.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the skirts of Dead-Man’s Forest, on the side opposite to that on which Cato the Creeper lived, was a small settlement on a hillside.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading On the skirts of Dead-Man’s Forest, on the side opposite to that on which Cato the Creeper lived, was a small settlement on a hillside.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was very small, numbering but about a dozen houses or cabins, and in the center on the hilltop was a small block-house.
overlookedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərlʊkt/
not taken into account
From this reading The settlement, being on a hill, overlooked a fine landscape.
ownedadjectiveUS /oʊnd/
having an owner; often used in combination
From this reading The soil about the houses was somewhat cultivated and fenced, but the latter was hardly needed, for the settlers owned but few cattle and these were “kept up,” to protect them from the Indians which infested the country.
shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage
From this reading The soil about the houses was somewhat cultivated and fenced, but the latter was hardly needed, for the settlers owned but few cattle and these were “kept up,” to protect them from the Indians which infested the country.
settlementnounUS /ˈsetəlmənt/
a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading On the skirts of Dead-Man’s Forest, on the side opposite to that on which Cato the Creeper lived, was a small settlement on a hillside.
settlersnounUS /ˈsetlərz/
plural of “settler” — a person who settles in a new colony or moves into new country
From this reading The soil about the houses was somewhat cultivated and fenced, but the latter was hardly needed, for the settlers owned but few cattle and these were “kept up,” to protect them from the Indians which infested the country.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading On the skirts of Dead-Man’s Forest, on the side opposite to that on which Cato the Creeper lived, was a small settlement on a hillside.
skirtsnounUS /skɜːrts/
plural of “skirt” — cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist
From this reading On the skirts of Dead-Man’s Forest, on the side opposite to that on which Cato the Creeper lived, was a small settlement on a hillside.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading On the skirts of Dead-Man’s Forest, on the side opposite to that on which Cato the Creeper lived, was a small settlement on a hillside.
the state of being covered with unclean things
From this reading The soil about the houses was somewhat cultivated and fenced, but the latter was hardly needed, for the settlers owned but few cattle and these were “kept up,” to protect them from the Indians which infested the country.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading The soil about the houses was somewhat cultivated and fenced, but the latter was hardly needed, for the settlers owned but few cattle and these were “kept up,” to protect them from the Indians which infested the country.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading On the skirts of Dead-Man’s Forest, on the side opposite to that on which Cato the Creeper lived, was a small settlement on a hillside.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On the skirts of Dead-Man’s Forest, on the side opposite to that on which Cato the Creeper lived, was a small settlement on a hillside.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The soil about the houses was somewhat cultivated and fenced, but the latter was hardly needed, for the settlers owned but few cattle and these were “kept up,” to protect them from the Indians which infested the country.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The soil about the houses was somewhat cultivated and fenced, but the latter was hardly needed, for the settlers owned but few cattle and these were “kept up,” to protect them from the Indians which infested the country.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On the skirts of Dead-Man’s Forest, on the side opposite to that on which Cato the Creeper lived, was a small settlement on a hillside.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The soil about the houses was somewhat cultivated and fenced, but the latter was hardly needed, for the settlers owned but few cattle and these were “kept up,” to protect them from the Indians which infested the country.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was very small, numbering but about a dozen houses or cabins, and in the center on the hilltop was a small block-house.
a message informing of danger
From this reading A WARNING.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On the skirts of Dead-Man’s Forest, on the side opposite to that on which Cato the Creeper lived, was a small settlement on a hillside.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The soil about the houses was somewhat cultivated and fenced, but the latter was hardly needed, for the settlers owned but few cattle and these were “kept up,” to protect them from the Indians which infested the country.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading On the skirts of Dead-Man’s Forest, on the side opposite to that on which Cato the Creeper lived, was a small settlement on a hillside.
