used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They lay in a kind of shallow ditch just under the outer edge of the great saucer, watching the orange lights from the helmets bob and duck nearer.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They lay in a kind of shallow ditch just under the outer edge of the great saucer, watching the orange lights from the helmets bob and duck nearer.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The women will wait; and we can fall back on the ruins of the town if they chase us.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading Bill said quietly, "We're cut off from the hill now."
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading They lay in a kind of shallow ditch just under the outer edge of the great saucer, watching the orange lights from the helmets bob and duck nearer.
botherverbUS /ˈbɑːðər/
take the trouble to do something; concern oneself
From this reading They may just investigate the ship here, and not bother with us.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading The women will wait; and we can fall back on the ruins of the town if they chase us.
go after with the intent to catch
From this reading The women will wait; and we can fall back on the ruins of the town if they chase us.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Bill said quietly, "We're cut off from the hill now."
ditchnounUS /dɪtʃ/
a long narrow excavation in the earth
From this reading They lay in a kind of shallow ditch just under the outer edge of the great saucer, watching the orange lights from the helmets bob and duck nearer.
duckverbUS /dʌk/
to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away
From this reading They lay in a kind of shallow ditch just under the outer edge of the great saucer, watching the orange lights from the helmets bob and duck nearer.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading They lay in a kind of shallow ditch just under the outer edge of the great saucer, watching the orange lights from the helmets bob and duck nearer.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading The women will wait; and we can fall back on the ruins of the town if they chase us.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They lay in a kind of shallow ditch just under the outer edge of the great saucer, watching the orange lights from the helmets bob and duck nearer.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading They lay in a kind of shallow ditch just under the outer edge of the great saucer, watching the orange lights from the helmets bob and duck nearer.
helmetsnounUS /ˈhelməts/
plural of “helmet” — armor plate that protects the head
From this reading They lay in a kind of shallow ditch just under the outer edge of the great saucer, watching the orange lights from the helmets bob and duck nearer.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading They may just investigate the ship here, and not bother with us.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Bill said quietly, "We're cut off from the hill now."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The women will wait; and we can fall back on the ruins of the town if they chase us.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They lay in a kind of shallow ditch just under the outer edge of the great saucer, watching the orange lights from the helmets bob and duck nearer.
investigateverbUS /ˌɪnˈvestəɡeɪt/
investigate scientifically
From this reading They may just investigate the ship here, and not bother with us.
and nothing more
From this reading They lay in a kind of shallow ditch just under the outer edge of the great saucer, watching the orange lights from the helmets bob and duck nearer.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading They lay in a kind of shallow ditch just under the outer edge of the great saucer, watching the orange lights from the helmets bob and duck nearer.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading They lay in a kind of shallow ditch just under the outer edge of the great saucer, watching the orange lights from the helmets bob and duck nearer.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading They lay in a kind of shallow ditch just under the outer edge of the great saucer, watching the orange lights from the helmets bob and duck nearer.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading They may just investigate the ship here, and not bother with us.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading They lay in a kind of shallow ditch just under the outer edge of the great saucer, watching the orange lights from the helmets bob and duck nearer.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They may just investigate the ship here, and not bother with us.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Bill said quietly, "We're cut off from the hill now."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They lay in a kind of shallow ditch just under the outer edge of the great saucer, watching the orange lights from the helmets bob and duck nearer.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Bill said quietly, "We're cut off from the hill now."
okayadjectiveUS /ˌoʊˈkeɪ/
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading "That's okay.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The women will wait; and we can fall back on the ruins of the town if they chase us.
orangenounUS /ˈɔːrəndʒ/
round yellow to orange fruit of any of several citrus trees
From this reading They lay in a kind of shallow ditch just under the outer edge of the great saucer, watching the orange lights from the helmets bob and duck nearer.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading They lay in a kind of shallow ditch just under the outer edge of the great saucer, watching the orange lights from the helmets bob and duck nearer.
with low volume
From this reading Bill said quietly, "We're cut off from the hill now."
ruinsnounUS /ˈruːənz/
plural of “ruin” — an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading The women will wait; and we can fall back on the ruins of the town if they chase us.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Bill said quietly, "We're cut off from the hill now."
saucernounUS /ˈsɔːsər/
something with a round shape resembling a flat circular plate
From this reading They lay in a kind of shallow ditch just under the outer edge of the great saucer, watching the orange lights from the helmets bob and duck nearer.
shallowadjectiveUS /ˈʃæloʊ/
lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center
From this reading They lay in a kind of shallow ditch just under the outer edge of the great saucer, watching the orange lights from the helmets bob and duck nearer.
transport commercially
From this reading They may just investigate the ship here, and not bother with us.
That's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's okay.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They lay in a kind of shallow ditch just under the outer edge of the great saucer, watching the orange lights from the helmets bob and duck nearer.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They lay in a kind of shallow ditch just under the outer edge of the great saucer, watching the orange lights from the helmets bob and duck nearer.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The women will wait; and we can fall back on the ruins of the town if they chase us.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading They lay in a kind of shallow ditch just under the outer edge of the great saucer, watching the orange lights from the helmets bob and duck nearer.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The women will wait; and we can fall back on the ruins of the town if they chase us.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading The women will wait; and we can fall back on the ruins of the town if they chase us.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading They lay in a kind of shallow ditch just under the outer edge of the great saucer, watching the orange lights from the helmets bob and duck nearer.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The women will wait; and we can fall back on the ruins of the town if they chase us.
We're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bill said quietly, "We're cut off from the hill now."
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The women will wait; and we can fall back on the ruins of the town if they chase us.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They may just investigate the ship here, and not bother with us.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The women will wait; and we can fall back on the ruins of the town if they chase us.
