used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading TEN YEARS All the way back to Denver, while the train ran down through the narrow, crooked cañon, Dave's mind dwelt in a penumbra of horror.
aimverbUS /eɪm/
point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
From this reading He had fired back into the night without aim.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading TEN YEARS All the way back to Denver, while the train ran down through the narrow, crooked cañon, Dave's mind dwelt in a penumbra of horror.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had not even tried to hit the men who were shooting at him.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading TEN YEARS All the way back to Denver, while the train ran down through the narrow, crooked cañon, Dave's mind dwelt in a penumbra of horror.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It must be some ghastly joke.
cañon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TEN YEARS All the way back to Denver, while the train ran down through the narrow, crooked cañon, Dave's mind dwelt in a penumbra of horror.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was impossible he could have killed Doble, he kept telling himself.
crookedadjectiveUS /ˈkrʊkəd/
having or marked by bends or angles; not straight or aligned
From this reading TEN YEARS All the way back to Denver, while the train ran down through the narrow, crooked cañon, Dave's mind dwelt in a penumbra of horror.
Dave's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TEN YEARS All the way back to Denver, while the train ran down through the narrow, crooked cañon, Dave's mind dwelt in a penumbra of horror.
DenvernounUS /ˈdenvər/
the state capital and largest city of Colorado; located in central Colorado on the South Platte river
From this reading TEN YEARS All the way back to Denver, while the train ran down through the narrow, crooked cañon, Dave's mind dwelt in a penumbra of horror.
Doble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was impossible he could have killed Doble, he kept telling himself.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading TEN YEARS All the way back to Denver, while the train ran down through the narrow, crooked cañon, Dave's mind dwelt in a penumbra of horror.
dweltverbUS /dwelt/
inflected form of “dwell” — think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading TEN YEARS All the way back to Denver, while the train ran down through the narrow, crooked cañon, Dave's mind dwelt in a penumbra of horror.
divisible by two
From this reading He had not even tried to hit the men who were shooting at him.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading He had fired back into the night without aim.
ghastlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡæstli/
shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
From this reading It must be some ghastly joke.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had fired back into the night without aim.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was impossible he could have killed Doble, he kept telling himself.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was impossible he could have killed Doble, he kept telling himself.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had not even tried to hit the men who were shooting at him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was impossible he could have killed Doble, he kept telling himself.
cause to move by striking
From this reading He had not even tried to hit the men who were shooting at him.
intense and profound fear
From this reading TEN YEARS All the way back to Denver, while the train ran down through the narrow, crooked cañon, Dave's mind dwelt in a penumbra of horror.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading It was impossible he could have killed Doble, he kept telling himself.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading TEN YEARS All the way back to Denver, while the train ran down through the narrow, crooked cañon, Dave's mind dwelt in a penumbra of horror.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He had fired back into the night without aim.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was impossible he could have killed Doble, he kept telling himself.
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading It must be some ghastly joke.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading It was impossible he could have killed Doble, he kept telling himself.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading It was impossible he could have killed Doble, he kept telling himself.
the force of workers available
From this reading He had not even tried to hit the men who were shooting at him.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading TEN YEARS All the way back to Denver, while the train ran down through the narrow, crooked cañon, Dave's mind dwelt in a penumbra of horror.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It must be some ghastly joke.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading TEN YEARS All the way back to Denver, while the train ran down through the narrow, crooked cañon, Dave's mind dwelt in a penumbra of horror.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading He had fired back into the night without aim.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had not even tried to hit the men who were shooting at him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TEN YEARS All the way back to Denver, while the train ran down through the narrow, crooked cañon, Dave's mind dwelt in a penumbra of horror.
penumbranounUS /pɪˈnʌmbrə/
a fringe region of partial shadow around an umbra
From this reading TEN YEARS All the way back to Denver, while the train ran down through the narrow, crooked cañon, Dave's mind dwelt in a penumbra of horror.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading TEN YEARS All the way back to Denver, while the train ran down through the narrow, crooked cañon, Dave's mind dwelt in a penumbra of horror.
shootingnounUS /ˈʃuːtɪŋ/
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading He had not even tried to hit the men who were shooting at him.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It must be some ghastly joke.
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading It was impossible he could have killed Doble, he kept telling himself.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading TEN YEARS All the way back to Denver, while the train ran down through the narrow, crooked cañon, Dave's mind dwelt in a penumbra of horror.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TEN YEARS All the way back to Denver, while the train ran down through the narrow, crooked cañon, Dave's mind dwelt in a penumbra of horror.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading TEN YEARS All the way back to Denver, while the train ran down through the narrow, crooked cañon, Dave's mind dwelt in a penumbra of horror.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading TEN YEARS All the way back to Denver, while the train ran down through the narrow, crooked cañon, Dave's mind dwelt in a penumbra of horror.
create by training and teaching
From this reading TEN YEARS All the way back to Denver, while the train ran down through the narrow, crooked cañon, Dave's mind dwelt in a penumbra of horror.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading He had not even tried to hit the men who were shooting at him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was impossible he could have killed Doble, he kept telling himself.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading TEN YEARS All the way back to Denver, while the train ran down through the narrow, crooked cañon, Dave's mind dwelt in a penumbra of horror.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He had not even tried to hit the men who were shooting at him.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading TEN YEARS All the way back to Denver, while the train ran down through the narrow, crooked cañon, Dave's mind dwelt in a penumbra of horror.
which person or people
From this reading He had not even tried to hit the men who were shooting at him.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He had fired back into the night without aim.
a late time of life
From this reading TEN YEARS All the way back to Denver, while the train ran down through the narrow, crooked cañon, Dave's mind dwelt in a penumbra of horror.
