used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading So he returned a missive which did not commit him to any particular course of procedure.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In a few days—it was the thirty-first of May—immense bodies of savages gathered on the bluffs of the river, armed and painted for war.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading “I believe that you’re right,” Hunt answered.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading So he returned a missive which did not commit him to any particular course of procedure.
(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms
From this reading In a few days—it was the thirty-first of May—immense bodies of savages gathered on the bluffs of the river, armed and painted for war.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They screeched their defiance and yelled like demons, so it was easy to see that the tricky Manuel had been influencing them.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading “I believe that you’re right,” Hunt answered.
bluffsnounUS /blʌfs/
plural of “bluff” — a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)
From this reading In a few days—it was the thirty-first of May—immense bodies of savages gathered on the bluffs of the river, armed and painted for war.
plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading In a few days—it was the thirty-first of May—immense bodies of savages gathered on the bluffs of the river, armed and painted for war.
commitverbUS /kəˈmɪt/
perform an act, usually with a negative connotation
From this reading So he returned a missive which did not commit him to any particular course of procedure.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading So he returned a missive which did not commit him to any particular course of procedure.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading In a few days—it was the thirty-first of May—immense bodies of savages gathered on the bluffs of the river, armed and painted for war.
defiancenounUS /dɪˈfaɪəns/
intentionally contemptuous behavior or attitude
From this reading They screeched their defiance and yelled like demons, so it was easy to see that the tricky Manuel had been influencing them.
definiteadjectiveUS /ˈdefənət/
precise; explicit and clearly defined
From this reading “I’ll send him no definite reply.”
demonsnounUS /ˈdiːmənz/
plural of “demon” — an evil supernatural being
From this reading They screeched their defiance and yelled like demons, so it was easy to see that the tricky Manuel had been influencing them.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading So he returned a missive which did not commit him to any particular course of procedure.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading They screeched their defiance and yelled like demons, so it was easy to see that the tricky Manuel had been influencing them.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading In a few days—it was the thirty-first of May—immense bodies of savages gathered on the bluffs of the river, armed and painted for war.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In a few days—it was the thirty-first of May—immense bodies of savages gathered on the bluffs of the river, armed and painted for war.
brought together in one place
From this reading In a few days—it was the thirty-first of May—immense bodies of savages gathered on the bluffs of the river, armed and painted for war.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They screeched their defiance and yelled like demons, so it was easy to see that the tricky Manuel had been influencing them.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So he returned a missive which did not commit him to any particular course of procedure.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I’ll send him no definite reply.”
pursue for food or sport (as of wild animals)
From this reading “I believe that you’re right,” Hunt answered.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I believe that you’re right,” Hunt answered.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ll send him no definite reply.”
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading In a few days—it was the thirty-first of May—immense bodies of savages gathered on the bluffs of the river, armed and painted for war.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In a few days—it was the thirty-first of May—immense bodies of savages gathered on the bluffs of the river, armed and painted for war.
influencingverbUS /ˈɪnfluːənsɪŋ/
-ing form of “influence” — have and exert influence or effect
From this reading They screeched their defiance and yelled like demons, so it was easy to see that the tricky Manuel had been influencing them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In a few days—it was the thirty-first of May—immense bodies of savages gathered on the bluffs of the river, armed and painted for war.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading They screeched their defiance and yelled like demons, so it was easy to see that the tricky Manuel had been influencing them.
Manuel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They screeched their defiance and yelled like demons, so it was easy to see that the tricky Manuel had been influencing them.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading In a few days—it was the thirty-first of May—immense bodies of savages gathered on the bluffs of the river, armed and painted for war.
missivenounUS /ˈmɪsɪv/
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading So he returned a missive which did not commit him to any particular course of procedure.
not any; not one
From this reading “I’ll send him no definite reply.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading So he returned a missive which did not commit him to any particular course of procedure.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading So he returned a missive which did not commit him to any particular course of procedure.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In a few days—it was the thirty-first of May—immense bodies of savages gathered on the bluffs of the river, armed and painted for war.
coated with paint
From this reading In a few days—it was the thirty-first of May—immense bodies of savages gathered on the bluffs of the river, armed and painted for war.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading So he returned a missive which did not commit him to any particular course of procedure.
procedurenounUS /prəˈsiːdʒər/
a particular course of action intended to achieve a result
From this reading So he returned a missive which did not commit him to any particular course of procedure.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading “I’ll send him no definite reply.”
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading So he returned a missive which did not commit him to any particular course of procedure.
precisely, exactly
From this reading “I believe that you’re right,” Hunt answered.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading In a few days—it was the thirty-first of May—immense bodies of savages gathered on the bluffs of the river, armed and painted for war.
savagesnounUS /ˈsævədʒəz/
plural of “savage” — a member of an uncivilized people
From this reading In a few days—it was the thirty-first of May—immense bodies of savages gathered on the bluffs of the river, armed and painted for war.
screechedverbUS /skriːtʃt/
past form of “screech” — make a high-pitched, screeching noise
From this reading They screeched their defiance and yelled like demons, so it was easy to see that the tricky Manuel had been influencing them.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading They screeched their defiance and yelled like demons, so it was easy to see that the tricky Manuel had been influencing them.
cause to go somewhere
From this reading “I’ll send him no definite reply.”
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So he returned a missive which did not commit him to any particular course of procedure.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I believe that you’re right,” Hunt answered.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In a few days—it was the thirty-first of May—immense bodies of savages gathered on the bluffs of the river, armed and painted for war.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They screeched their defiance and yelled like demons, so it was easy to see that the tricky Manuel had been influencing them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They screeched their defiance and yelled like demons, so it was easy to see that the tricky Manuel had been influencing them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They screeched their defiance and yelled like demons, so it was easy to see that the tricky Manuel had been influencing them.
thirty-firstadjective
coming next after the thirtieth in position
From this reading In a few days—it was the thirty-first of May—immense bodies of savages gathered on the bluffs of the river, armed and painted for war.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading So he returned a missive which did not commit him to any particular course of procedure.
trickyadjectiveUS /ˈtrɪki/
not to be trusted
From this reading They screeched their defiance and yelled like demons, so it was easy to see that the tricky Manuel had been influencing them.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading In a few days—it was the thirty-first of May—immense bodies of savages gathered on the bluffs of the river, armed and painted for war.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In a few days—it was the thirty-first of May—immense bodies of savages gathered on the bluffs of the river, armed and painted for war.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading So he returned a missive which did not commit him to any particular course of procedure.
yelledadjectiveUS /jeld/
in a vehement outcry
From this reading They screeched their defiance and yelled like demons, so it was easy to see that the tricky Manuel had been influencing them.
you're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I believe that you’re right,” Hunt answered.
