used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Before the afternoon had half passed all doubt of the coming darkness was removed.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The sky became heavily clouded, the air was raw and chilly, and no moon was visible.
(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 Before the afternoon had half passed all doubt of the coming darkness was removed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The sky became heavily clouded, the air was raw and chilly, and no moon was visible.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before the afternoon had half passed all doubt of the coming darkness was removed.
besiegedadjectiveUS /bɪˈsiːdʒd/
surrounded by hostile forces
From this reading Now came hours of wearisome waiting, especially to the besieged, who found in their close quarters little freedom of movement.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Now came hours of wearisome waiting, especially to the besieged, who found in their close quarters little freedom of movement.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
chillyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪli/
not characterized by emotion
From this reading The sky became heavily clouded, the air was raw and chilly, and no moon was visible.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Now came hours of wearisome waiting, especially to the besieged, who found in their close quarters little freedom of movement.
cloudedadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdɪd/
made troubled or apprehensive or distressed in appearance
From this reading The sky became heavily clouded, the air was raw and chilly, and no moon was visible.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Before the afternoon had half passed all doubt of the coming darkness was removed.
seemingly without interruption
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Before the afternoon had half passed all doubt of the coming darkness was removed.
desultoryadjectiveUS /ˈdesəltɔːri/
marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose; jumping from one thing to another
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading Before the afternoon had half passed all doubt of the coming darkness was removed.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading Now came hours of wearisome waiting, especially to the besieged, who found in their close quarters little freedom of movement.
FINALadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnəl/
occurring at or forming an end or termination
From this reading THE FINAL SUMMONS.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
set up or found
From this reading Now came hours of wearisome waiting, especially to the besieged, who found in their close quarters little freedom of movement.
the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
From this reading Now came hours of wearisome waiting, especially to the besieged, who found in their close quarters little freedom of movement.
gamesnounUS /ɡeɪmz/
plural of “game” — a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before the afternoon had half passed all doubt of the coming darkness was removed.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Before the afternoon had half passed all doubt of the coming darkness was removed.
to a considerable degree
From this reading The sky became heavily clouded, the air was raw and chilly, and no moon was visible.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Now came hours of wearisome waiting, especially to the besieged, who found in their close quarters little freedom of movement.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Now came hours of wearisome waiting, especially to the besieged, who found in their close quarters little freedom of movement.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Now came hours of wearisome waiting, especially to the besieged, who found in their close quarters little freedom of movement.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
maintainedadjectiveUS /meɪnˈteɪnd/
kept in good condition
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
the force of workers available
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading The sky became heavily clouded, the air was raw and chilly, and no moon was visible.
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading Now came hours of wearisome waiting, especially to the besieged, who found in their close quarters little freedom of movement.
not any; not one
From this reading The sky became heavily clouded, the air was raw and chilly, and no moon was visible.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now came hours of wearisome waiting, especially to the besieged, who found in their close quarters little freedom of movement.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Now came hours of wearisome waiting, especially to the besieged, who found in their close quarters little freedom of movement.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Before the afternoon had half passed all doubt of the coming darkness was removed.
housing available for people to live in
From this reading Now came hours of wearisome waiting, especially to the besieged, who found in their close quarters little freedom of movement.
rawadjectiveUS /rɑː/
(used especially of commodities) being unprocessed or manufactured using only simple or minimal processes
From this reading The sky became heavily clouded, the air was raw and chilly, and no moon was visible.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading Before the afternoon had half passed all doubt of the coming darkness was removed.
rustlersnounUS /ˈrʌsələrz/
plural of “rustler” — someone who steals livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The sky became heavily clouded, the air was raw and chilly, and no moon was visible.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
SUMMONSnounUS /ˈsʌmənz/
a request to be present
From this reading THE FINAL SUMMONS.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FINAL SUMMONS.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Now came hours of wearisome waiting, especially to the besieged, who found in their close quarters little freedom of movement.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Now came hours of wearisome waiting, especially to the besieged, who found in their close quarters little freedom of movement.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading The sky became heavily clouded, the air was raw and chilly, and no moon was visible.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Now came hours of wearisome waiting, especially to the besieged, who found in their close quarters little freedom of movement.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
look attentively
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
wearisomeadjectiveUS /ˈwɪrisəm/
so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
From this reading Now came hours of wearisome waiting, especially to the besieged, who found in their close quarters little freedom of movement.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
which person or people
From this reading Now came hours of wearisome waiting, especially to the besieged, who found in their close quarters little freedom of movement.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Some of the men stretched out on the lower floor and slept; others talked and engaged in games of chance, while a desultory watch was maintained, through the doors and windows, upon the rustlers, several of whom were continually in sight.
