used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Steel flashed in plenty all about, and half a score of wild men crouched and "hunkered" round them waiting for the chance to spring.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Steel flashed in plenty all about, and half a score of wild men crouched and "hunkered" round them waiting for the chance to spring.
affraynoun
noisy quarrel
From this reading Meanwhile the tall, dark man, who had the manifest air of a chief, walked leisurely towards them and stood looking on at the affray.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Meanwhile the tall, dark man, who had the manifest air of a chief, walked leisurely towards them and stood looking on at the affray.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading But with Walter Gordon and Jack Scarlett standing back to back, each with a long sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, it was not easy for the most alert to find an unprotected opening.
(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 COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But with Walter Gordon and Jack Scarlett standing back to back, each with a long sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, it was not easy for the most alert to find an unprotected opening.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Meanwhile the tall, dark man, who had the manifest air of a chief, walked leisurely towards them and stood looking on at the affray.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading But with Walter Gordon and Jack Scarlett standing back to back, each with a long sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, it was not easy for the most alert to find an unprotected opening.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But with Walter Gordon and Jack Scarlett standing back to back, each with a long sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, it was not easy for the most alert to find an unprotected opening.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "Sir!" cried Wat, "call off your men, and permit us to explain our presence."
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Steel flashed in plenty all about, and half a score of wild men crouched and "hunkered" round them waiting for the chance to spring.
a person who is in charge
From this reading Meanwhile the tall, dark man, who had the manifest air of a chief, walked leisurely towards them and stood looking on at the affray.
COLL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
COWSnounUS /kaʊz/
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "Sir!" cried Wat, "call off your men, and permit us to explain our presence."
crouchedverbUS /kraʊtʃt/
past form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading Steel flashed in plenty all about, and half a score of wild men crouched and "hunkered" round them waiting for the chance to spring.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Meanwhile the tall, dark man, who had the manifest air of a chief, walked leisurely towards them and stood looking on at the affray.
defensiveadjectiveUS /dɪˈfensɪv/
intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading But with Walter Gordon and Jack Scarlett standing back to back, each with a long sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, it was not easy for the most alert to find an unprotected opening.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading But with Walter Gordon and Jack Scarlett standing back to back, each with a long sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, it was not easy for the most alert to find an unprotected opening.
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading "Sir!" cried Wat, "call off your men, and permit us to explain our presence."
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading But with Walter Gordon and Jack Scarlett standing back to back, each with a long sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, it was not easy for the most alert to find an unprotected opening.
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading Steel flashed in plenty all about, and half a score of wild men crouched and "hunkered" round them waiting for the chance to spring.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Steel flashed in plenty all about, and half a score of wild men crouched and "hunkered" round them waiting for the chance to spring.
Gordon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But with Walter Gordon and Jack Scarlett standing back to back, each with a long sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, it was not easy for the most alert to find an unprotected opening.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Steel flashed in plenty all about, and half a score of wild men crouched and "hunkered" round them waiting for the chance to spring.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading But with Walter Gordon and Jack Scarlett standing back to back, each with a long sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, it was not easy for the most alert to find an unprotected opening.
hunkeredverbUS /ˈhʌŋkərd/
past form of “hunker” — sit on one's heels
From this reading Steel flashed in plenty all about, and half a score of wild men crouched and "hunkered" round them waiting for the chance to spring.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But with Walter Gordon and Jack Scarlett standing back to back, each with a long sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, it was not easy for the most alert to find an unprotected opening.
a small worthless amount
From this reading But with Walter Gordon and Jack Scarlett standing back to back, each with a long sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, it was not easy for the most alert to find an unprotected opening.
leisurelyadverbUS /ˈliːzərli/
in an unhurried way or at one's convenience
From this reading Meanwhile the tall, dark man, who had the manifest air of a chief, walked leisurely towards them and stood looking on at the affray.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading But with Walter Gordon and Jack Scarlett standing back to back, each with a long sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, it was not easy for the most alert to find an unprotected opening.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Meanwhile the tall, dark man, who had the manifest air of a chief, walked leisurely towards them and stood looking on at the affray.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Meanwhile the tall, dark man, who had the manifest air of a chief, walked leisurely towards them and stood looking on at the affray.
manifestverbUS /ˈmænəfest/
provide evidence for; stand as proof of; show by one's behavior, attitude, or external attributes
From this reading Meanwhile the tall, dark man, who had the manifest air of a chief, walked leisurely towards them and stood looking on at the affray.
at the same time but in another place
From this reading Meanwhile the tall, dark man, who had the manifest air of a chief, walked leisurely towards them and stood looking on at the affray.
the force of workers available
From this reading Steel flashed in plenty all about, and half a score of wild men crouched and "hunkered" round them waiting for the chance to spring.
used to form the superlative
From this reading But with Walter Gordon and Jack Scarlett standing back to back, each with a long sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, it was not easy for the most alert to find an unprotected opening.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But with Walter Gordon and Jack Scarlett standing back to back, each with a long sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, it was not easy for the most alert to find an unprotected opening.
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "Sir!" cried Wat, "call off your men, and permit us to explain our presence."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But with Walter Gordon and Jack Scarlett standing back to back, each with a long sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, it was not easy for the most alert to find an unprotected opening.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading But with Walter Gordon and Jack Scarlett standing back to back, each with a long sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, it was not easy for the most alert to find an unprotected opening.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading But with Walter Gordon and Jack Scarlett standing back to back, each with a long sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, it was not easy for the most alert to find an unprotected opening.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "Sir!" cried Wat, "call off your men, and permit us to explain our presence."
a legal document giving official permission to do something
From this reading "Sir!" cried Wat, "call off your men, and permit us to explain our presence."
a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading But with Walter Gordon and Jack Scarlett standing back to back, each with a long sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, it was not easy for the most alert to find an unprotected opening.
a full supply
From this reading Steel flashed in plenty all about, and half a score of wild men crouched and "hunkered" round them waiting for the chance to spring.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading "Sir!" cried Wat, "call off your men, and permit us to explain our presence."
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Steel flashed in plenty all about, and half a score of wild men crouched and "hunkered" round them waiting for the chance to spring.
Scarlett
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
a number or letter indicating quality (especially of a student's performance)
From this reading Steel flashed in plenty all about, and half a score of wild men crouched and "hunkered" round them waiting for the chance to spring.
term of address for a man
From this reading "Sir!" cried Wat, "call off your men, and permit us to explain our presence."
the season of growth
From this reading Steel flashed in plenty all about, and half a score of wild men crouched and "hunkered" round them waiting for the chance to spring.
be standing; be upright
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
having a supporting base
From this reading But with Walter Gordon and Jack Scarlett standing back to back, each with a long sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, it was not easy for the most alert to find an unprotected opening.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading Steel flashed in plenty all about, and half a score of wild men crouched and "hunkered" round them waiting for the chance to spring.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Meanwhile the tall, dark man, who had the manifest air of a chief, walked leisurely towards them and stood looking on at the affray.
a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
From this reading But with Walter Gordon and Jack Scarlett standing back to back, each with a long sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, it was not easy for the most alert to find an unprotected opening.
swordsnounUS /sɔːrdz/
plural of “sword” — a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading Meanwhile the tall, dark man, who had the manifest air of a chief, walked leisurely towards them and stood looking on at the affray.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Steel flashed in plenty all about, and half a score of wild men crouched and "hunkered" round them waiting for the chance to spring.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
in the direction of
From this reading Meanwhile the tall, dark man, who had the manifest air of a chief, walked leisurely towards them and stood looking on at the affray.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
unprotectedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnprəˈtektɪd/
lacking protection or defense
From this reading But with Walter Gordon and Jack Scarlett standing back to back, each with a long sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, it was not easy for the most alert to find an unprotected opening.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Sir!" cried Wat, "call off your men, and permit us to explain our presence."
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Steel flashed in plenty all about, and half a score of wild men crouched and "hunkered" round them waiting for the chance to spring.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading Meanwhile the tall, dark man, who had the manifest air of a chief, walked leisurely towards them and stood looking on at the affray.
German conductor (1876-1962)
From this reading But with Walter Gordon and Jack Scarlett standing back to back, each with a long sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, it was not easy for the most alert to find an unprotected opening.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But with Walter Gordon and Jack Scarlett standing back to back, each with a long sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, it was not easy for the most alert to find an unprotected opening.
Wat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading COLL O' THE COWS Then, almost before Wat and Scarlett had time to draw their swords and stand on the defensive, they in their turn became the centre of all the noise in the village.
which person or people
From this reading Meanwhile the tall, dark man, who had the manifest air of a chief, walked leisurely towards them and stood looking on at the affray.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading Steel flashed in plenty all about, and half a score of wild men crouched and "hunkered" round them waiting for the chance to spring.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But with Walter Gordon and Jack Scarlett standing back to back, each with a long sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, it was not easy for the most alert to find an unprotected opening.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Sir!" cried Wat, "call off your men, and permit us to explain our presence."
