used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
anew
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
(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 You have to scramble up by catching hold of the hanging branches of the trees, and sometimes on all fours, by sheer strength.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
exhale hard
From this reading The captain had ordered us not to stir, and only to come to him when we heard him blow his trumpet.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading You have to scramble up by catching hold of the hanging branches of the trees, and sometimes on all fours, by sheer strength.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading The captain had ordered us not to stir, and only to come to him when we heard him blow his trumpet.
catchingnounUS /ˈkætʃɪŋ/
(baseball) playing the position of catcher on a baseball team
From this reading You have to scramble up by catching hold of the hanging branches of the trees, and sometimes on all fours, by sheer strength.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The captain had ordered us not to stir, and only to come to him when we heard him blow his trumpet.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
coulées
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
foursnounUS /fɔːrz/
plural of “four” — the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading You have to scramble up by catching hold of the hanging branches of the trees, and sometimes on all fours, by sheer strength.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
glideverbUS /ɡlaɪd/
move smoothly and effortlessly
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
goat'snounUS /ɡoʊts/
possessive form of “goat” — any of numerous agile ruminants related to sheep but having a beard and straight horns
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
destroyed or killed
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading You have to scramble up by catching hold of the hanging branches of the trees, and sometimes on all fours, by sheer strength.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading You have to scramble up by catching hold of the hanging branches of the trees, and sometimes on all fours, by sheer strength.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The captain had ordered us not to stir, and only to come to him when we heard him blow his trumpet.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The captain had ordered us not to stir, and only to come to him when we heard him blow his trumpet.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading You have to scramble up by catching hold of the hanging branches of the trees, and sometimes on all fours, by sheer strength.
hornnounUS /hɔːrn/
a noisemaker (as at parties or games) that makes a loud noise when you blow through it
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
leaguenounUS /liːɡ/
an association of sports teams that organizes matches for its members
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
lookoutnounUS /ˈlʊkaʊt/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
not any; not one
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The captain had ordered us not to stir, and only to come to him when we heard him blow his trumpet.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
and nothing more
From this reading The captain had ordered us not to stir, and only to come to him when we heard him blow his trumpet.
having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule
From this reading The captain had ordered us not to stir, and only to come to him when we heard him blow his trumpet.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
ravinenounUS /rəˈviːn/
a deep narrow steep-sided valley (especially one formed by running water)
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
riflesnounUS /ˈraɪfəlz/
plural of “rifle” — a shoulder firearm with a long barrel and a rifled bore
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
scrambleverbUS /ˈskræmbəl/
to move hurriedly
From this reading You have to scramble up by catching hold of the hanging branches of the trees, and sometimes on all fours, by sheer strength.
sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading You have to scramble up by catching hold of the hanging branches of the trees, and sometimes on all fours, by sheer strength.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading You have to scramble up by catching hold of the hanging branches of the trees, and sometimes on all fours, by sheer strength.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
move an implement through
From this reading The captain had ordered us not to stir, and only to come to him when we heard him blow his trumpet.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading You have to scramble up by catching hold of the hanging branches of the trees, and sometimes on all fours, by sheer strength.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The captain had ordered us not to stir, and only to come to him when we heard him blow his trumpet.
the upper part of anything
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading You have to scramble up by catching hold of the hanging branches of the trees, and sometimes on all fours, by sheer strength.
trumpetverbUS /ˈtrʌmpət/
proclaim on, or as if on, a trumpet
From this reading The captain had ordered us not to stir, and only to come to him when we heard him blow his trumpet.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The captain had ordered us not to stir, and only to come to him when we heard him blow his trumpet.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
at the time that
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
