used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But no enemy appeared; all was as silent as the grave, save that a sharp crackling could be heard all round, from the north to the east side of the gorse-covered common.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Volumes of smoke began to drive across their faces, the atmosphere was stifling.
at or in the front
From this reading Ahead of them they could see the whole common in a red blaze; behind them the flames were bursting out.
(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 The men came in, and all the force was drawn up ready to repel any sudden onset.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The men came in, and all the force was drawn up ready to repel any sudden onset.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The men came in, and all the force was drawn up ready to repel any sudden onset.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But no enemy appeared; all was as silent as the grave, save that a sharp crackling could be heard all round, from the north to the east side of the gorse-covered common.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But no enemy appeared; all was as silent as the grave, save that a sharp crackling could be heard all round, from the north to the east side of the gorse-covered common.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading Volumes of smoke began to drive across their faces, the atmosphere was stifling.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But no enemy appeared; all was as silent as the grave, save that a sharp crackling could be heard all round, from the north to the east side of the gorse-covered common.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Volumes of smoke began to drive across their faces, the atmosphere was stifling.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Ahead of them they could see the whole common in a red blaze; behind them the flames were bursting out.
blazenounUS /bleɪz/
a strong flame that burns brightly
From this reading Ahead of them they could see the whole common in a red blaze; behind them the flames were bursting out.
burstingverbUS /ˈbɜːrstɪŋ/
-ing form of “burst” — come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading Ahead of them they could see the whole common in a red blaze; behind them the flames were bursting out.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But no enemy appeared; all was as silent as the grave, save that a sharp crackling could be heard all round, from the north to the east side of the gorse-covered common.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The men came in, and all the force was drawn up ready to repel any sudden onset.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading But no enemy appeared; all was as silent as the grave, save that a sharp crackling could be heard all round, from the north to the east side of the gorse-covered common.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But no enemy appeared; all was as silent as the grave, save that a sharp crackling could be heard all round, from the north to the east side of the gorse-covered common.
cracklingnounUS /ˈkræklɪŋ/
the residue that remains after animal fat has been rendered
From this reading But no enemy appeared; all was as silent as the grave, save that a sharp crackling could be heard all round, from the north to the east side of the gorse-covered common.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading The men came in, and all the force was drawn up ready to repel any sudden onset.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading Volumes of smoke began to drive across their faces, the atmosphere was stifling.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading But no enemy appeared; all was as silent as the grave, save that a sharp crackling could be heard all round, from the north to the east side of the gorse-covered common.
an opposing military force
From this reading But no enemy appeared; all was as silent as the grave, save that a sharp crackling could be heard all round, from the north to the east side of the gorse-covered common.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Volumes of smoke began to drive across their faces, the atmosphere was stifling.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The common was on fire.
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading Ahead of them they could see the whole common in a red blaze; behind them the flames were bursting out.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading The men came in, and all the force was drawn up ready to repel any sudden onset.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But no enemy appeared; all was as silent as the grave, save that a sharp crackling could be heard all round, from the north to the east side of the gorse-covered common.
gorse-covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But no enemy appeared; all was as silent as the grave, save that a sharp crackling could be heard all round, from the north to the east side of the gorse-covered common.
death of a person
From this reading But no enemy appeared; all was as silent as the grave, save that a sharp crackling could be heard all round, from the north to the east side of the gorse-covered common.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading But no enemy appeared; all was as silent as the grave, save that a sharp crackling could be heard all round, from the north to the east side of the gorse-covered common.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The men came in, and all the force was drawn up ready to repel any sudden onset.
the force of workers available
From this reading The men came in, and all the force was drawn up ready to repel any sudden onset.
not any; not one
From this reading But no enemy appeared; all was as silent as the grave, save that a sharp crackling could be heard all round, from the north to the east side of the gorse-covered common.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading But no enemy appeared; all was as silent as the grave, save that a sharp crackling could be heard all round, from the north to the east side of the gorse-covered common.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But no enemy appeared; all was as silent as the grave, save that a sharp crackling could be heard all round, from the north to the east side of the gorse-covered common.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The common was on fire.
onsetnounUS /ˈɑːnset/
the beginning or early stages
From this reading The men came in, and all the force was drawn up ready to repel any sudden onset.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Ahead of them they could see the whole common in a red blaze; behind them the flames were bursting out.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading The men came in, and all the force was drawn up ready to repel any sudden onset.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Ahead of them they could see the whole common in a red blaze; behind them the flames were bursting out.
repelverbUS /rɪˈpel/
cause to move back by force or influence
From this reading The men came in, and all the force was drawn up ready to repel any sudden onset.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading But no enemy appeared; all was as silent as the grave, save that a sharp crackling could be heard all round, from the north to the east side of the gorse-covered common.
except for; apart from
From this reading But no enemy appeared; all was as silent as the grave, save that a sharp crackling could be heard all round, from the north to the east side of the gorse-covered common.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Ahead of them they could see the whole common in a red blaze; behind them the flames were bursting out.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading But no enemy appeared; all was as silent as the grave, save that a sharp crackling could be heard all round, from the north to the east side of the gorse-covered common.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading But no enemy appeared; all was as silent as the grave, save that a sharp crackling could be heard all round, from the north to the east side of the gorse-covered common.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading But no enemy appeared; all was as silent as the grave, save that a sharp crackling could be heard all round, from the north to the east side of the gorse-covered common.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading Volumes of smoke began to drive across their faces, the atmosphere was stifling.
stiflingnounUS /ˈstaɪflɪŋ/
forceful prevention; putting down by power or authority
From this reading Volumes of smoke began to drive across their faces, the atmosphere was stifling.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading The men came in, and all the force was drawn up ready to repel any sudden onset.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But no enemy appeared; all was as silent as the grave, save that a sharp crackling could be heard all round, from the north to the east side of the gorse-covered common.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The men came in, and all the force was drawn up ready to repel any sudden onset.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Volumes of smoke began to drive across their faces, the atmosphere was stifling.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Ahead of them they could see the whole common in a red blaze; behind them the flames were bursting out.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Ahead of them they could see the whole common in a red blaze; behind them the flames were bursting out.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The men came in, and all the force was drawn up ready to repel any sudden onset.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The men came in, and all the force was drawn up ready to repel any sudden onset.
VolumesnounUS /ˈvɑːljuːmz/
plural of “volume” — the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading Volumes of smoke began to drive across their faces, the atmosphere was stifling.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The men came in, and all the force was drawn up ready to repel any sudden onset.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Ahead of them they could see the whole common in a red blaze; behind them the flames were bursting out.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Ahead of them they could see the whole common in a red blaze; behind them the flames were bursting out.
