used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading "Surely it can do us no harm to stand guard, and even though the savages do not make any move, we should act as if believing they might do so at any moment."
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "Why am I to go off duty?"
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "Surely it can do us no harm to stand guard, and even though the savages do not make any move, we should act as if believing they might do so at any moment."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Surely it can do us no harm to stand guard, and even though the savages do not make any move, we should act as if believing they might do so at any moment."
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Susan asked.
in a state of sleep
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
ASSAULTnounUS /əˈsɔːlt/
close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Surely it can do us no harm to stand guard, and even though the savages do not make any move, we should act as if believing they might do so at any moment."
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
barredadjectiveUS /bɑːrd/
preventing entry or exit or a course of action
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
believingnounUS /bɪˈliːvɪŋ/
the cognitive process that leads to convictions
From this reading "Surely it can do us no harm to stand guard, and even though the savages do not make any move, we should act as if believing they might do so at any moment."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "Surely it can do us no harm to stand guard, and even though the savages do not make any move, we should act as if believing they might do so at any moment."
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
determine the number or amount of
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Surely it can do us no harm to stand guard, and even though the savages do not make any move, we should act as if believing they might do so at any moment."
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
divisible by two
From this reading "Surely it can do us no harm to stand guard, and even though the savages do not make any move, we should act as if believing they might do so at any moment."
opinion or judgment
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Why am I to go off duty?"
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.
From this reading "Surely it can do us no harm to stand guard, and even though the savages do not make any move, we should act as if believing they might do so at any moment."
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Why am I to go off duty?"
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Surely it can do us no harm to stand guard, and even though the savages do not make any move, we should act as if believing they might do so at any moment."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
lengthenverbUS /ˈleŋθən/
make longer
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
engage in
From this reading "Surely it can do us no harm to stand guard, and even though the savages do not make any move, we should act as if believing they might do so at any moment."
attach a tag or label to
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
mayhapadverb
by chance
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
the force of workers available
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading "Surely it can do us no harm to stand guard, and even though the savages do not make any move, we should act as if believing they might do so at any moment."
a particular point in time
From this reading "Surely it can do us no harm to stand guard, and even though the savages do not make any move, we should act as if believing they might do so at any moment."
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Surely it can do us no harm to stand guard, and even though the savages do not make any move, we should act as if believing they might do so at any moment."
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
not any; not one
From this reading "Surely it can do us no harm to stand guard, and even though the savages do not make any move, we should act as if believing they might do so at any moment."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "Why am I to go off duty?"
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
savagesnounUS /ˈsævədʒəz/
plural of “savage” — a member of an uncivilized people
From this reading "Surely it can do us no harm to stand guard, and even though the savages do not make any move, we should act as if believing they might do so at any moment."
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "Surely it can do us no harm to stand guard, and even though the savages do not make any move, we should act as if believing they might do so at any moment."
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "Surely it can do us no harm to stand guard, and even though the savages do not make any move, we should act as if believing they might do so at any moment."
be standing; be upright
From this reading "Surely it can do us no harm to stand guard, and even though the savages do not make any move, we should act as if believing they might do so at any moment."
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading "Surely it can do us no harm to stand guard, and even though the savages do not make any move, we should act as if believing they might do so at any moment."
Susan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
in or at that place or location
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "Surely it can do us no harm to stand guard, and even though the savages do not make any move, we should act as if believing they might do so at any moment."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Surely it can do us no harm to stand guard, and even though the savages do not make any move, we should act as if believing they might do so at any moment."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
at the time that
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
which person or people
From this reading THE FIRST ASSAULT Not until the shadows of night were beginning to lengthen was Susan relieved from guard duty, and then the gate had been closed and barred by Mark, who said to his cousin:
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why am I to go off duty?"
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "There is little chance an attack will be made until after night has come, when they count on finding us asleep, mayhap, although it would be queer people who could close their eyes in rest while a crowd of men was waiting for a good opportunity to kill them."
