used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "Hernan," he said, his eyes still watching the outside, "you and the others get out there with the carriers after the first volley.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The commander knew there was no sense in charging into them at that point: they would simply scatter and reassemble.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
attackedverbUS /əˈtækt/
past form of “attack” — launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
From this reading The only thing to do was wait until they attacked--and then smash the attack.
carriersnounUS /ˈkæriərz/
plural of “carrier” — someone whose employment involves carrying something
From this reading "Hernan," he said, his eyes still watching the outside, "you and the others get out there with the carriers after the first volley.
chargingverbUS /ˈtʃɑːrdʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “charge” — to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading The commander knew there was no sense in charging into them at that point: they would simply scatter and reassemble.
commandernounUS /kəˈmændər/
an officer in command of a military unit
From this reading The commander knew there was no sense in charging into them at that point: they would simply scatter and reassemble.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Cut them down.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The only thing to do was wait until they attacked--and then smash the attack.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Cut them down.
Earthmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
eight-mile-long
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
opinion or judgment
From this reading "Hernan," he said, his eyes still watching the outside, "you and the others get out there with the carriers after the first volley.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading "Hernan," he said, his eyes still watching the outside, "you and the others get out there with the carriers after the first volley.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
frenzynounUS /ˈfrenzi/
state of violent mental agitation
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Hernan," he said, his eyes still watching the outside, "you and the others get out there with the carriers after the first volley.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Hernan," he said, his eyes still watching the outside, "you and the others get out there with the carriers after the first volley.
Hernan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hernan," he said, his eyes still watching the outside, "you and the others get out there with the carriers after the first volley.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Hernan," he said, his eyes still watching the outside, "you and the others get out there with the carriers after the first volley.
hutsnounUS /hʌts/
plural of “hut” — temporary military shelter
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
invadingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈveɪdɪŋ/
involving invasion or aggressive attack
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The commander knew there was no sense in charging into them at that point: they would simply scatter and reassemble.
mud-brickadjective
of or incorporating mud bricks
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
nativesnounUS /ˈneɪtɪvz/
plural of “native” — an indigenous person who was born in a particular place
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
not any; not one
From this reading The commander knew there was no sense in charging into them at that point: they would simply scatter and reassemble.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
and nothing more
From this reading The only thing to do was wait until they attacked--and then smash the attack.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hernan," he said, his eyes still watching the outside, "you and the others get out there with the carriers after the first volley.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "Hernan," he said, his eyes still watching the outside, "you and the others get out there with the carriers after the first volley.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading "Hernan," he said, his eyes still watching the outside, "you and the others get out there with the carriers after the first volley.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading The commander knew there was no sense in charging into them at that point: they would simply scatter and reassemble.
reassembleverbUS /ˌriːəˈsembəl/
assemble once again, after taking something apart
From this reading The commander knew there was no sense in charging into them at that point: they would simply scatter and reassemble.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Hernan," he said, his eyes still watching the outside, "you and the others get out there with the carriers after the first volley.
scatterverbUS /ˈskætər/
to cause to separate and go in different directions
From this reading The commander knew there was no sense in charging into them at that point: they would simply scatter and reassemble.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading The commander knew there was no sense in charging into them at that point: they would simply scatter and reassemble.
and nothing more
From this reading The commander knew there was no sense in charging into them at that point: they would simply scatter and reassemble.
smashverbUS /smæʃ/
hit hard
From this reading The only thing to do was wait until they attacked--and then smash the attack.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
not in physical motion
From this reading "Hernan," he said, his eyes still watching the outside, "you and the others get out there with the carriers after the first volley.
confined on all sides
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The commander knew there was no sense in charging into them at that point: they would simply scatter and reassemble.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The commander knew there was no sense in charging into them at that point: they would simply scatter and reassemble.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The only thing to do was wait until they attacked--and then smash the attack.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The commander knew there was no sense in charging into them at that point: they would simply scatter and reassemble.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The commander knew there was no sense in charging into them at that point: they would simply scatter and reassemble.
a special situation
From this reading The only thing to do was wait until they attacked--and then smash the attack.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The only thing to do was wait until they attacked--and then smash the attack.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The only thing to do was wait until they attacked--and then smash the attack.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
volleynounUS /ˈvɑːli/
rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms
From this reading "Hernan," he said, his eyes still watching the outside, "you and the others get out there with the carriers after the first volley.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading The only thing to do was wait until they attacked--and then smash the attack.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The commander knew there was no sense in charging into them at that point: they would simply scatter and reassemble.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading "Hernan," he said, his eyes still watching the outside, "you and the others get out there with the carriers after the first volley.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
which person or people
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Hernan," he said, his eyes still watching the outside, "you and the others get out there with the carriers after the first volley.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The invading Earthmen were in a village at the southern end of the eight-mile-long island, waiting inside the mud-brick huts while the natives who had surrounded the village worked themselves into a frenzy for an attack.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The commander knew there was no sense in charging into them at that point: they would simply scatter and reassemble.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Hernan," he said, his eyes still watching the outside, "you and the others get out there with the carriers after the first volley.
