used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But for nearly a week nothing unusual happened.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading They rode twenty or thirty yards in the rear of the mounted blacks, ready to give instant alarm of any danger.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading They rode twenty or thirty yards in the rear of the mounted blacks, ready to give instant alarm of any danger.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
blacksnounUS /blæks/
plural of “black” — the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading They rode twenty or thirty yards in the rear of the mounted blacks, ready to give instant alarm of any danger.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The white boys were not with him.
bushnounUS /bʊʃ/
a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But for nearly a week nothing unusual happened.
cockedverbUS /kɑːkt/
past form of “cock” — tilt or slant to one side
From this reading First Sight of the Musgraves Next day Mick Darby rode with cocked rifle in the lead of the plant.
persuaded of; very sure
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading They rode twenty or thirty yards in the rear of the mounted blacks, ready to give instant alarm of any danger.
Darby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First Sight of the Musgraves Next day Mick Darby rode with cocked rifle in the lead of the plant.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading First Sight of the Musgraves Next day Mick Darby rode with cocked rifle in the lead of the plant.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
fastnesses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading First Sight of the Musgraves Next day Mick Darby rode with cocked rifle in the lead of the plant.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But for nearly a week nothing unusual happened.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading They rode twenty or thirty yards in the rear of the mounted blacks, ready to give instant alarm of any danger.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading But for nearly a week nothing unusual happened.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The white boys were not with him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading First Sight of the Musgraves Next day Mick Darby rode with cocked rifle in the lead of the plant.
indicateverbUS /ˈɪndəkeɪt/
be a signal for or a symptom of
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading They rode twenty or thirty yards in the rear of the mounted blacks, ready to give instant alarm of any danger.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
take somebody somewhere
From this reading First Sight of the Musgraves Next day Mick Darby rode with cocked rifle in the lead of the plant.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
MicknounUS /mɪk/
(ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Irish descent
From this reading First Sight of the Musgraves Next day Mick Darby rode with cocked rifle in the lead of the plant.
assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support
From this reading They rode twenty or thirty yards in the rear of the mounted blacks, ready to give instant alarm of any danger.
Musgraves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First Sight of the Musgraves Next day Mick Darby rode with cocked rifle in the lead of the plant.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading But for nearly a week nothing unusual happened.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading First Sight of the Musgraves Next day Mick Darby rode with cocked rifle in the lead of the plant.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The white boys were not with him.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading But for nearly a week nothing unusual happened.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading First Sight of the Musgraves Next day Mick Darby rode with cocked rifle in the lead of the plant.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They rode twenty or thirty yards in the rear of the mounted blacks, ready to give instant alarm of any danger.
plantverbUS /plænt/
put or set (seeds, seedlings, or plants) into the ground
From this reading First Sight of the Musgraves Next day Mick Darby rode with cocked rifle in the lead of the plant.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading They rode twenty or thirty yards in the rear of the mounted blacks, ready to give instant alarm of any danger.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading They rode twenty or thirty yards in the rear of the mounted blacks, ready to give instant alarm of any danger.
retiringadjectiveUS /rɪˈtaɪrɪŋ/
not arrogant or presuming
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading First Sight of the Musgraves Next day Mick Darby rode with cocked rifle in the lead of the plant.
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading First Sight of the Musgraves Next day Mick Darby rode with cocked rifle in the lead of the plant.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading First Sight of the Musgraves Next day Mick Darby rode with cocked rifle in the lead of the plant.
signalsnounUS /ˈsɪɡnəlz/
plural of “signal” — any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading First Sight of the Musgraves Next day Mick Darby rode with cocked rifle in the lead of the plant.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They rode twenty or thirty yards in the rear of the mounted blacks, ready to give instant alarm of any danger.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading They rode twenty or thirty yards in the rear of the mounted blacks, ready to give instant alarm of any danger.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They rode twenty or thirty yards in the rear of the mounted blacks, ready to give instant alarm of any danger.
a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading They rode twenty or thirty yards in the rear of the mounted blacks, ready to give instant alarm of any danger.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading But for nearly a week nothing unusual happened.
a message informing of danger
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
watchfuladjectiveUS /ˈwɑːtʃfəl/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading But for nearly a week nothing unusual happened.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The white boys were not with him.
a Caucasian
From this reading The white boys were not with him.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading A few smoke signals were seen, but were so far away that they seemed to indicate that the wild blacks had taken warning and were retiring to their bush fastnesses, having been convinced that it was beyond their power to trick a watchful white man.
in the company of; together with
From this reading First Sight of the Musgraves Next day Mick Darby rode with cocked rifle in the lead of the plant.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading They rode twenty or thirty yards in the rear of the mounted blacks, ready to give instant alarm of any danger.
