used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He felt that the enemy would surely look into the niche, for the officer meant that not a hole or corner should be missed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When the soldiers entered the little room, Dan felt inclined to give himself and his companion up as lost.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading When the soldiers entered the little room, Dan felt inclined to give himself and his companion up as lost.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He felt that the enemy would surely look into the niche, for the officer meant that not a hole or corner should be missed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading When first coming in he had loaded a pistol he carried,--his gun had been lost in the fight in the courtyard,--and he had done the same for the old frontiersman.
a youthful male person
From this reading Boy and man held the pistols ready for use.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading When first coming in he had loaded a pistol he carried,--his gun had been lost in the fight in the courtyard,--and he had done the same for the old frontiersman.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading When first coming in he had loaded a pistol he carried,--his gun had been lost in the fight in the courtyard,--and he had done the same for the old frontiersman.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading When the soldiers entered the little room, Dan felt inclined to give himself and his companion up as lost.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading He felt that the enemy would surely look into the niche, for the officer meant that not a hole or corner should be missed.
courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrt.jɑːrd/
An unroofed area that is completely or partially enclosed by the walls of a house.
From this reading When first coming in he had loaded a pistol he carried,--his gun had been lost in the fight in the courtyard,--and he had done the same for the old frontiersman.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the soldiers entered the little room, Dan felt inclined to give himself and his companion up as lost.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading When first coming in he had loaded a pistol he carried,--his gun had been lost in the fight in the courtyard,--and he had done the same for the old frontiersman.
an opposing military force
From this reading He felt that the enemy would surely look into the niche, for the officer meant that not a hole or corner should be missed.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading When the soldiers entered the little room, Dan felt inclined to give himself and his companion up as lost.
ESCAPINGverbUS /ɪˈskeɪpɪŋ/
-ing form of “escape” — run away from confinement
From this reading ESCAPING TO THE RIVER.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading When the soldiers entered the little room, Dan felt inclined to give himself and his companion up as lost.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading When first coming in he had loaded a pistol he carried,--his gun had been lost in the fight in the courtyard,--and he had done the same for the old frontiersman.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading When first coming in he had loaded a pistol he carried,--his gun had been lost in the fight in the courtyard,--and he had done the same for the old frontiersman.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He felt that the enemy would surely look into the niche, for the officer meant that not a hole or corner should be missed.
frontiersmannoun
a man who lives on the frontier
From this reading When first coming in he had loaded a pistol he carried,--his gun had been lost in the fight in the courtyard,--and he had done the same for the old frontiersman.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading When the soldiers entered the little room, Dan felt inclined to give himself and his companion up as lost.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading When first coming in he had loaded a pistol he carried,--his gun had been lost in the fight in the courtyard,--and he had done the same for the old frontiersman.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When first coming in he had loaded a pistol he carried,--his gun had been lost in the fight in the courtyard,--and he had done the same for the old frontiersman.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He felt that the enemy would surely look into the niche, for the officer meant that not a hole or corner should be missed.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Boy and man held the pistols ready for use.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading When the soldiers entered the little room, Dan felt inclined to give himself and his companion up as lost.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When the soldiers entered the little room, Dan felt inclined to give himself and his companion up as lost.
an opening into or through something
From this reading He felt that the enemy would surely look into the niche, for the officer meant that not a hole or corner should be missed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When first coming in he had loaded a pistol he carried,--his gun had been lost in the fight in the courtyard,--and he had done the same for the old frontiersman.
(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency
From this reading When the soldiers entered the little room, Dan felt inclined to give himself and his companion up as lost.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He felt that the enemy would surely look into the niche, for the officer meant that not a hole or corner should be missed.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading When the soldiers entered the little room, Dan felt inclined to give himself and his companion up as lost.
loadedadjectiveUS /ˈloʊdɪd/
filled with a great quantity
From this reading When first coming in he had loaded a pistol he carried,--his gun had been lost in the fight in the courtyard,--and he had done the same for the old frontiersman.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He felt that the enemy would surely look into the niche, for the officer meant that not a hole or corner should be missed.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading When the soldiers entered the little room, Dan felt inclined to give himself and his companion up as lost.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Boy and man held the pistols ready for use.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading He felt that the enemy would surely look into the niche, for the officer meant that not a hole or corner should be missed.
not caught with the senses or the mind
From this reading He felt that the enemy would surely look into the niche, for the officer meant that not a hole or corner should be missed.
nichenounUS /nɪtʃ/
a position particularly well suited to the person who occupies it
From this reading He felt that the enemy would surely look into the niche, for the officer meant that not a hole or corner should be missed.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He felt that the enemy would surely look into the niche, for the officer meant that not a hole or corner should be missed.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading He felt that the enemy would surely look into the niche, for the officer meant that not a hole or corner should be missed.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading When first coming in he had loaded a pistol he carried,--his gun had been lost in the fight in the courtyard,--and he had done the same for the old frontiersman.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He felt that the enemy would surely look into the niche, for the officer meant that not a hole or corner should be missed.
pistolnounUS /ˈpɪstəl/
a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading When first coming in he had loaded a pistol he carried,--his gun had been lost in the fight in the courtyard,--and he had done the same for the old frontiersman.
pistolsnounUS /ˈpɪstəlz/
plural of “pistol” — a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading Boy and man held the pistols ready for use.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Boy and man held the pistols ready for use.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading ESCAPING TO THE RIVER.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading When the soldiers entered the little room, Dan felt inclined to give himself and his companion up as lost.
Identical; not different.
From this reading When first coming in he had loaded a pistol he carried,--his gun had been lost in the fight in the courtyard,--and he had done the same for the old frontiersman.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He felt that the enemy would surely look into the niche, for the officer meant that not a hole or corner should be missed.
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading When the soldiers entered the little room, Dan felt inclined to give himself and his companion up as lost.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading He felt that the enemy would surely look into the niche, for the officer meant that not a hole or corner should be missed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He felt that the enemy would surely look into the niche, for the officer meant that not a hole or corner should be missed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ESCAPING TO THE RIVER.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ESCAPING TO THE RIVER.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When the soldiers entered the little room, Dan felt inclined to give himself and his companion up as lost.
the act of using
From this reading Boy and man held the pistols ready for use.
at the time that
From this reading When the soldiers entered the little room, Dan felt inclined to give himself and his companion up as lost.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He felt that the enemy would surely look into the niche, for the officer meant that not a hole or corner should be missed.
