used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE CHALLENGE I went slowly down stairs, swayed by a conflict of emotions.
abruptadjectiveUS /əˈbrʌpt/
marked by sudden changes in subject and sharp transitions
From this reading Had I indeed gone too far, been too stern and abrupt?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Had I indeed gone too far, been too stern and abrupt?
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Still it was surely better to err in this direction than to exhibit weakness, and it was only between these two that I had any choice remaining.
armiesnounUS /ˈɑːrmiz/
plural of “army” — a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading What lay between us and our own lines was uncertain--possibly Confederate pickets, surely bands of stragglers, renegades from both armies.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Now that we had waited so long, it would be a desperate chance to attempt to traverse that ravine in daylight.
bandsnounUS /bændz/
plural of “band” — an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading What lay between us and our own lines was uncertain--possibly Confederate pickets, surely bands of stragglers, renegades from both armies.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Now that we had waited so long, it would be a desperate chance to attempt to traverse that ravine in daylight.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had I indeed gone too far, been too stern and abrupt?
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Still it was surely better to err in this direction than to exhibit weakness, and it was only between these two that I had any choice remaining.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Still it was surely better to err in this direction than to exhibit weakness, and it was only between these two that I had any choice remaining.
the two together, not just one
From this reading What lay between us and our own lines was uncertain--possibly Confederate pickets, surely bands of stragglers, renegades from both armies.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE CHALLENGE I went slowly down stairs, swayed by a conflict of emotions.
CHALLENGEverbUS /ˈtʃæləndʒ/
take exception to
From this reading THE CHALLENGE I went slowly down stairs, swayed by a conflict of emotions.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Now that we had waited so long, it would be a desperate chance to attempt to traverse that ravine in daylight.
the person or thing chosen or selected
From this reading Still it was surely better to err in this direction than to exhibit weakness, and it was only between these two that I had any choice remaining.
ConfederatenounUS /kənˈfedərət/
a supporter of the Confederate States of America
From this reading What lay between us and our own lines was uncertain--possibly Confederate pickets, surely bands of stragglers, renegades from both armies.
conflictnounUS /ˈkɑːnflɪkt/
an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals)
From this reading THE CHALLENGE I went slowly down stairs, swayed by a conflict of emotions.
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading Now that we had waited so long, it would be a desperate chance to attempt to traverse that ravine in daylight.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading Now that we had waited so long, it would be a desperate chance to attempt to traverse that ravine in daylight.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading Still it was surely better to err in this direction than to exhibit weakness, and it was only between these two that I had any choice remaining.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading THE CHALLENGE I went slowly down stairs, swayed by a conflict of emotions.
plural of “emotion” — any strong feeling
From this reading THE CHALLENGE I went slowly down stairs, swayed by a conflict of emotions.
errverbUS /er/
to make a mistake or be incorrect
From this reading Still it was surely better to err in this direction than to exhibit weakness, and it was only between these two that I had any choice remaining.
exhibitverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪbɪt/
show an attribute, property, knowledge, or skill
From this reading Still it was surely better to err in this direction than to exhibit weakness, and it was only between these two that I had any choice remaining.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Had I indeed gone too far, been too stern and abrupt?
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading What lay between us and our own lines was uncertain--possibly Confederate pickets, surely bands of stragglers, renegades from both armies.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Had I indeed gone too far, been too stern and abrupt?
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had I indeed gone too far, been too stern and abrupt?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE CHALLENGE I went slowly down stairs, swayed by a conflict of emotions.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Still it was surely better to err in this direction than to exhibit weakness, and it was only between these two that I had any choice remaining.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Had I indeed gone too far, been too stern and abrupt?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Still it was surely better to err in this direction than to exhibit weakness, and it was only between these two that I had any choice remaining.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading What lay between us and our own lines was uncertain--possibly Confederate pickets, surely bands of stragglers, renegades from both armies.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading What lay between us and our own lines was uncertain--possibly Confederate pickets, surely bands of stragglers, renegades from both armies.
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 Now that we had waited so long, it would be a desperate chance to attempt to traverse that ravine in daylight.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now that we had waited so long, it would be a desperate chance to attempt to traverse that ravine in daylight.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE CHALLENGE I went slowly down stairs, swayed by a conflict of emotions.
and nothing more
From this reading Still it was surely better to err in this direction than to exhibit weakness, and it was only between these two that I had any choice remaining.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading What lay between us and our own lines was uncertain--possibly Confederate pickets, surely bands of stragglers, renegades from both armies.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading What lay between us and our own lines was uncertain--possibly Confederate pickets, surely bands of stragglers, renegades from both armies.
picketsnounUS /ˈpɪkəts/
plural of “picket” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading What lay between us and our own lines was uncertain--possibly Confederate pickets, surely bands of stragglers, renegades from both armies.
by chance
From this reading What lay between us and our own lines was uncertain--possibly Confederate pickets, surely bands of stragglers, renegades from both armies.
ravinenounUS /rəˈviːn/
a deep narrow steep-sided valley (especially one formed by running water)
From this reading Now that we had waited so long, it would be a desperate chance to attempt to traverse that ravine in daylight.
not used up
From this reading Still it was surely better to err in this direction than to exhibit weakness, and it was only between these two that I had any choice remaining.
renegadesnounUS /ˈrenəɡeɪdz/
plural of “renegade” — someone who rebels and becomes an outlaw
From this reading What lay between us and our own lines was uncertain--possibly Confederate pickets, surely bands of stragglers, renegades from both armies.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading THE CHALLENGE I went slowly down stairs, swayed by a conflict of emotions.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Now that we had waited so long, it would be a desperate chance to attempt to traverse that ravine in daylight.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading THE CHALLENGE I went slowly down stairs, swayed by a conflict of emotions.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading Had I indeed gone too far, been too stern and abrupt?
not in physical motion
From this reading Still it was surely better to err in this direction than to exhibit weakness, and it was only between these two that I had any choice remaining.
stragglersnounUS /ˈstræɡlərz/
plural of “straggler” — someone who strays or falls behind
From this reading What lay between us and our own lines was uncertain--possibly Confederate pickets, surely bands of stragglers, renegades from both armies.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Still it was surely better to err in this direction than to exhibit weakness, and it was only between these two that I had any choice remaining.
swayedverbUS /sweɪd/
past form of “sway” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading THE CHALLENGE I went slowly down stairs, swayed by a conflict of emotions.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Still it was surely better to err in this direction than to exhibit weakness, and it was only between these two that I had any choice remaining.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Still it was surely better to err in this direction than to exhibit weakness, and it was only between these two that I had any choice remaining.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CHALLENGE I went slowly down stairs, swayed by a conflict of emotions.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Still it was surely better to err in this direction than to exhibit weakness, and it was only between these two that I had any choice remaining.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Still it was surely better to err in this direction than to exhibit weakness, and it was only between these two that I had any choice remaining.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Still it was surely better to err in this direction than to exhibit weakness, and it was only between these two that I had any choice remaining.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Had I indeed gone too far, been too stern and abrupt?
traverseverbUS /ˈtrævərs/
travel across or pass over
From this reading Now that we had waited so long, it would be a desperate chance to attempt to traverse that ravine in daylight.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Still it was surely better to err in this direction than to exhibit weakness, and it was only between these two that I had any choice remaining.
uncertainadjectiveUS /ənˈsɜːrtən/
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
From this reading What lay between us and our own lines was uncertain--possibly Confederate pickets, surely bands of stragglers, renegades from both armies.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading What lay between us and our own lines was uncertain--possibly Confederate pickets, surely bands of stragglers, renegades from both armies.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Now that we had waited so long, it would be a desperate chance to attempt to traverse that ravine in daylight.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Still it was surely better to err in this direction than to exhibit weakness, and it was only between these two that I had any choice remaining.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Now that we had waited so long, it would be a desperate chance to attempt to traverse that ravine in daylight.
a flaw or weak point
From this reading Still it was surely better to err in this direction than to exhibit weakness, and it was only between these two that I had any choice remaining.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading THE CHALLENGE I went slowly down stairs, swayed by a conflict of emotions.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What lay between us and our own lines was uncertain--possibly Confederate pickets, surely bands of stragglers, renegades from both armies.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Now that we had waited so long, it would be a desperate chance to attempt to traverse that ravine in daylight.
