used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading NINIAN'S GREETING Suddenly, out of the moonlit distance before them, appeared a strange vision.
aguenounUS /ˈeɪɡjuː/
a fit of shivering or shaking
From this reading It was coming--it was upon them--it was gone; and the blast of cold air with which it passed them set the horses shivering in an ague of fear, and tied the men's tongues.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading It was coming--it was upon them--it was gone; and the blast of cold air with which it passed them set the horses shivering in an ague of fear, and tied the men's tongues.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was coming--it was upon them--it was gone; and the blast of cold air with which it passed them set the horses shivering in an ague of fear, and tied the men's tongues.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A horse and his rider, as spotlessly white and gleaming as the snow on the distant mountaintops, moving toward them as swift as the wind and in supernatural silence.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading NINIAN'S GREETING Suddenly, out of the moonlit distance before them, appeared a strange vision.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A horse and his rider, as spotlessly white and gleaming as the snow on the distant mountaintops, moving toward them as swift as the wind and in supernatural silence.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
backingnounUS /ˈbækɪŋ/
the act of providing approval and support
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
earlier than; in front of
From this reading NINIAN'S GREETING Suddenly, out of the moonlit distance before them, appeared a strange vision.
blastverbUS /blæst/
make a strident sound
From this reading It was coming--it was upon them--it was gone; and the blast of cold air with which it passed them set the horses shivering in an ague of fear, and tied the men's tongues.
the two together, not just one
From this reading The eyes of the steed and its master glowed with a wicked light that startled both the old frontiersman and the modern scribe, and set Prince and Nimrod into paroxysms of terror.
burrnounUS /bɜːr/
seed vessel having hooks or prickles
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading It was coming--it was upon them--it was gone; and the blast of cold air with which it passed them set the horses shivering in an ague of fear, and tied the men's tongues.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading It was coming--it was upon them--it was gone; and the blast of cold air with which it passed them set the horses shivering in an ague of fear, and tied the men's tongues.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
disappearancenounUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrəns/
the act of leaving secretly or without explanation
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading NINIAN'S GREETING Suddenly, out of the moonlit distance before them, appeared a strange vision.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading A horse and his rider, as spotlessly white and gleaming as the snow on the distant mountaintops, moving toward them as swift as the wind and in supernatural silence.
Ephraim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
opinion or judgment
From this reading The eyes of the steed and its master glowed with a wicked light that startled both the old frontiersman and the modern scribe, and set Prince and Nimrod into paroxysms of terror.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading It was coming--it was upon them--it was gone; and the blast of cold air with which it passed them set the horses shivering in an ague of fear, and tied the men's tongues.
frontiersmannoun
a man who lives on the frontier
From this reading The eyes of the steed and its master glowed with a wicked light that startled both the old frontiersman and the modern scribe, and set Prince and Nimrod into paroxysms of terror.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
gleamingnounUS /ˈɡliːmɪŋ/
a flash of light (especially reflected light)
From this reading A horse and his rider, as spotlessly white and gleaming as the snow on the distant mountaintops, moving toward them as swift as the wind and in supernatural silence.
glowedverbUS /ɡloʊd/
past form of “glow” — emit a steady even light without flames
From this reading The eyes of the steed and its master glowed with a wicked light that startled both the old frontiersman and the modern scribe, and set Prince and Nimrod into paroxysms of terror.
destroyed or killed
From this reading It was coming--it was upon them--it was gone; and the blast of cold air with which it passed them set the horses shivering in an ague of fear, and tied the men's tongues.
GREETINGnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading NINIAN'S GREETING Suddenly, out of the moonlit distance before them, appeared a strange vision.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A horse and his rider, as spotlessly white and gleaming as the snow on the distant mountaintops, moving toward them as swift as the wind and in supernatural silence.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading A horse and his rider, as spotlessly white and gleaming as the snow on the distant mountaintops, moving toward them as swift as the wind and in supernatural silence.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading It was coming--it was upon them--it was gone; and the blast of cold air with which it passed them set the horses shivering in an ague of fear, and tied the men's tongues.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A horse and his rider, as spotlessly white and gleaming as the snow on the distant mountaintops, moving toward them as swift as the wind and in supernatural silence.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The eyes of the steed and its master glowed with a wicked light that startled both the old frontiersman and the modern scribe, and set Prince and Nimrod into paroxysms of terror.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was coming--it was upon them--it was gone; and the blast of cold air with which it passed them set the horses shivering in an ague of fear, and tied the men's tongues.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The eyes of the steed and its master glowed with a wicked light that startled both the old frontiersman and the modern scribe, and set Prince and Nimrod into paroxysms of terror.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The eyes of the steed and its master glowed with a wicked light that startled both the old frontiersman and the modern scribe, and set Prince and Nimrod into paroxysms of terror.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading The eyes of the steed and its master glowed with a wicked light that startled both the old frontiersman and the modern scribe, and set Prince and Nimrod into paroxysms of terror.
men'snounUS /menz/
a public toilet for men
From this reading It was coming--it was upon them--it was gone; and the blast of cold air with which it passed them set the horses shivering in an ague of fear, and tied the men's tongues.
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading The eyes of the steed and its master glowed with a wicked light that startled both the old frontiersman and the modern scribe, and set Prince and Nimrod into paroxysms of terror.
moonlitadjectiveUS /ˈmuːnlɪt/
lighted by moonlight
From this reading NINIAN'S GREETING Suddenly, out of the moonlit distance before them, appeared a strange vision.
attach to a support
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
mountaintops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A horse and his rider, as spotlessly white and gleaming as the snow on the distant mountaintops, moving toward them as swift as the wind and in supernatural silence.
in motion
From this reading A horse and his rider, as spotlessly white and gleaming as the snow on the distant mountaintops, moving toward them as swift as the wind and in supernatural silence.
NimrodnounUS /ˈnɪmrɑːd/
(Old Testament) a famous hunter
From this reading The eyes of the steed and its master glowed with a wicked light that startled both the old frontiersman and the modern scribe, and set Prince and Nimrod into paroxysms of terror.
NINIAN'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NINIAN'S GREETING Suddenly, out of the moonlit distance before them, appeared a strange vision.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading NINIAN'S GREETING Suddenly, out of the moonlit distance before them, appeared a strange vision.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The eyes of the steed and its master glowed with a wicked light that startled both the old frontiersman and the modern scribe, and set Prince and Nimrod into paroxysms of terror.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A horse and his rider, as spotlessly white and gleaming as the snow on the distant mountaintops, moving toward them as swift as the wind and in supernatural silence.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading NINIAN'S GREETING Suddenly, out of the moonlit distance before them, appeared a strange vision.
paroxysms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The eyes of the steed and its master glowed with a wicked light that startled both the old frontiersman and the modern scribe, and set Prince and Nimrod into paroxysms of terror.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading It was coming--it was upon them--it was gone; and the blast of cold air with which it passed them set the horses shivering in an ague of fear, and tied the men's tongues.
plungingverbUS /ˈplʌndʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)
From this reading The eyes of the steed and its master glowed with a wicked light that startled both the old frontiersman and the modern scribe, and set Prince and Nimrod into paroxysms of terror.
RearingnounUS /ˈrɪrɪŋ/
the properties acquired as a consequence of the way you were treated as a child
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
revolvernounUS /rɪˈvɑːlvər/
a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
ridernounUS /ˈraɪdər/
a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)
From this reading A horse and his rider, as spotlessly white and gleaming as the snow on the distant mountaintops, moving toward them as swift as the wind and in supernatural silence.
put a saddle on
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
scribeverbUS /skraɪb/
score a line on with a pointed instrument, as in metalworking
From this reading The eyes of the steed and its master glowed with a wicked light that startled both the old frontiersman and the modern scribe, and set Prince and Nimrod into paroxysms of terror.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The eyes of the steed and its master glowed with a wicked light that startled both the old frontiersman and the modern scribe, and set Prince and Nimrod into paroxysms of terror.
shiveringnounUS /ˈʃɪvərɪŋ/
a sensation of cold that often marks the start of an infection and the development of a fever
From this reading It was coming--it was upon them--it was gone; and the blast of cold air with which it passed them set the horses shivering in an ague of fear, and tied the men's tongues.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading A horse and his rider, as spotlessly white and gleaming as the snow on the distant mountaintops, moving toward them as swift as the wind and in supernatural silence.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading A horse and his rider, as spotlessly white and gleaming as the snow on the distant mountaintops, moving toward them as swift as the wind and in supernatural silence.
in the near future
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
specternounUS /ˈspektər/
a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
spotlesslyadverb
in a spotless manner
From this reading A horse and his rider, as spotlessly white and gleaming as the snow on the distant mountaintops, moving toward them as swift as the wind and in supernatural silence.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading The eyes of the steed and its master glowed with a wicked light that startled both the old frontiersman and the modern scribe, and set Prince and Nimrod into paroxysms of terror.
steednounUS /stiːd/
(literary) a spirited horse for state of war
From this reading The eyes of the steed and its master glowed with a wicked light that startled both the old frontiersman and the modern scribe, and set Prince and Nimrod into paroxysms of terror.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading NINIAN'S GREETING Suddenly, out of the moonlit distance before them, appeared a strange vision.
caught or fixed
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
happening unexpectedly
From this reading NINIAN'S GREETING Suddenly, out of the moonlit distance before them, appeared a strange vision.
supernaturalnounUS /ˌsuːpərˈnætʃərəl/
supernatural forces and events and beings collectively
From this reading A horse and his rider, as spotlessly white and gleaming as the snow on the distant mountaintops, moving toward them as swift as the wind and in supernatural silence.
moving very fast
From this reading A horse and his rider, as spotlessly white and gleaming as the snow on the distant mountaintops, moving toward them as swift as the wind and in supernatural silence.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading The eyes of the steed and its master glowed with a wicked light that startled both the old frontiersman and the modern scribe, and set Prince and Nimrod into paroxysms of terror.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The eyes of the steed and its master glowed with a wicked light that startled both the old frontiersman and the modern scribe, and set Prince and Nimrod into paroxysms of terror.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading NINIAN'S GREETING Suddenly, out of the moonlit distance before them, appeared a strange vision.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading NINIAN'S GREETING Suddenly, out of the moonlit distance before them, appeared a strange vision.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
bound or secured closely
From this reading It was coming--it was upon them--it was gone; and the blast of cold air with which it passed them set the horses shivering in an ague of fear, and tied the men's tongues.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian's mount had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of the appearance and disappearance of this strange "specter."
tonguesnounUS /tʌŋz/
plural of “tongue” — a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading It was coming--it was upon them--it was gone; and the blast of cold air with which it passed them set the horses shivering in an ague of fear, and tied the men's tongues.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading A horse and his rider, as spotlessly white and gleaming as the snow on the distant mountaintops, moving toward them as swift as the wind and in supernatural silence.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was coming--it was upon them--it was gone; and the blast of cold air with which it passed them set the horses shivering in an ague of fear, and tied the men's tongues.
a vivid mental image
From this reading NINIAN'S GREETING Suddenly, out of the moonlit distance before them, appeared a strange vision.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was coming--it was upon them--it was gone; and the blast of cold air with which it passed them set the horses shivering in an ague of fear, and tied the men's tongues.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was coming--it was upon them--it was gone; and the blast of cold air with which it passed them set the horses shivering in an ague of fear, and tied the men's tongues.
a Caucasian
From this reading A horse and his rider, as spotlessly white and gleaming as the snow on the distant mountaintops, moving toward them as swift as the wind and in supernatural silence.
morally bad in principle or practice
From this reading The eyes of the steed and its master glowed with a wicked light that startled both the old frontiersman and the modern scribe, and set Prince and Nimrod into paroxysms of terror.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading A horse and his rider, as spotlessly white and gleaming as the snow on the distant mountaintops, moving toward them as swift as the wind and in supernatural silence.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The eyes of the steed and its master glowed with a wicked light that startled both the old frontiersman and the modern scribe, and set Prince and Nimrod into paroxysms of terror.
