used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Helpless, baffled, the Sergeant stared about him into the driving flakes, his ungloved, stiffening hand gripping the cold butt of his Colt, ready for any emergency.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading It was deserted, except for tracks already nearly obliterated by the fierce wind.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Helpless, baffled, the Sergeant stared about him into the driving flakes, his ungloved, stiffening hand gripping the cold butt of his Colt, ready for any emergency.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
bafflednounUS /ˈbæfəld/
people who are frustrated and perplexed
From this reading Helpless, baffled, the Sergeant stared about him into the driving flakes, his ungloved, stiffening hand gripping the cold butt of his Colt, ready for any emergency.
blindedadjectiveUS /ˈblaɪndɪd/
deprived of sight
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
buttverbUS /bʌt/
lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
From this reading Helpless, baffled, the Sergeant stared about him into the driving flakes, his ungloved, stiffening hand gripping the cold butt of his Colt, ready for any emergency.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
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 Helpless, baffled, the Sergeant stared about him into the driving flakes, his ungloved, stiffening hand gripping the cold butt of his Colt, ready for any emergency.
ColtnounUS /koʊlt/
a young male horse under the age of four
From this reading Helpless, baffled, the Sergeant stared about him into the driving flakes, his ungloved, stiffening hand gripping the cold butt of his Colt, ready for any emergency.
crestnounUS /krest/
the top line of a hill, mountain, or wave
From this reading Reckless, mad with rage, he sprang up the wind-swept side, and reached the crest.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading It was deserted, except for tracks already nearly obliterated by the fierce wind.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading Helpless, baffled, the Sergeant stared about him into the driving flakes, his ungloved, stiffening hand gripping the cold butt of his Colt, ready for any emergency.
emergencynounUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi/
a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action
From this reading Helpless, baffled, the Sergeant stared about him into the driving flakes, his ungloved, stiffening hand gripping the cold butt of his Colt, ready for any emergency.
apart from; not including
From this reading It was deserted, except for tracks already nearly obliterated by the fierce wind.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading It was deserted, except for tracks already nearly obliterated by the fierce wind.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
flakesnounUS /fleɪks/
plural of “flake” — a crystal of snow
From this reading Helpless, baffled, the Sergeant stared about him into the driving flakes, his ungloved, stiffening hand gripping the cold butt of his Colt, ready for any emergency.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was deserted, except for tracks already nearly obliterated by the fierce wind.
grippingadjectiveUS /ˈɡrɪpɪŋ/
capable of arousing and holding the attention
From this reading Helpless, baffled, the Sergeant stared about him into the driving flakes, his ungloved, stiffening hand gripping the cold butt of his Colt, ready for any emergency.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Helpless, baffled, the Sergeant stared about him into the driving flakes, his ungloved, stiffening hand gripping the cold butt of his Colt, ready for any emergency.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
lacking in or deprived of strength or power
From this reading Helpless, baffled, the Sergeant stared about him into the driving flakes, his ungloved, stiffening hand gripping the cold butt of his Colt, ready for any emergency.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Helpless, baffled, the Sergeant stared about him into the driving flakes, his ungloved, stiffening hand gripping the cold butt of his Colt, ready for any emergency.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
imaginingverbUS /ˌɪˈmædʒənɪŋ/
-ing form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Helpless, baffled, the Sergeant stared about him into the driving flakes, his ungloved, stiffening hand gripping the cold butt of his Colt, ready for any emergency.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was deserted, except for tracks already nearly obliterated by the fierce wind.
roused to anger
From this reading Reckless, mad with rage, he sprang up the wind-swept side, and reached the crest.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading There was no return shot, no visible movement.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It was deserted, except for tracks already nearly obliterated by the fierce wind.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no return shot, no visible movement.
obliteratedadjectiveUS /əˈblɪtəreɪtɪd/
reduced to nothingness
From this reading It was deserted, except for tracks already nearly obliterated by the fierce wind.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
on one occasion
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading Reckless, mad with rage, he sprang up the wind-swept side, and reached the crest.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Reckless, mad with rage, he sprang up the wind-swept side, and reached the crest.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Helpless, baffled, the Sergeant stared about him into the driving flakes, his ungloved, stiffening hand gripping the cold butt of his Colt, ready for any emergency.
RecklessadjectiveUS /ˈrekləs/
marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences
From this reading Reckless, mad with rage, he sprang up the wind-swept side, and reached the crest.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading There was no return shot, no visible movement.
ridgenounUS /rɪdʒ/
a long narrow natural elevation or striation
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
cut with a saw
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
SergeantnounUS /ˈsɑːrdʒənt/
any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal
From this reading Helpless, baffled, the Sergeant stared about him into the driving flakes, his ungloved, stiffening hand gripping the cold butt of his Colt, ready for any emergency.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading There was no return shot, no visible movement.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Reckless, mad with rage, he sprang up the wind-swept side, and reached the crest.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Reckless, mad with rage, he sprang up the wind-swept side, and reached the crest.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Helpless, baffled, the Sergeant stared about him into the driving flakes, his ungloved, stiffening hand gripping the cold butt of his Colt, ready for any emergency.
stiffeningnounUS /ˈstɪfənɪŋ/
the act of becoming stiff
From this reading Helpless, baffled, the Sergeant stared about him into the driving flakes, his ungloved, stiffening hand gripping the cold butt of his Colt, ready for any emergency.
summitnounUS /ˈsʌmət/
the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no return shot, no visible movement.
tracksnounUS /træks/
plural of “track” — a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading It was deserted, except for tracks already nearly obliterated by the fierce wind.
ungloved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helpless, baffled, the Sergeant stared about him into the driving flakes, his ungloved, stiffening hand gripping the cold butt of his Colt, ready for any emergency.
UNSEENadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːn/
not seen or perceived
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading UNSEEN DANGER Once he paused, blinded by the snow, flung up his arm, and fired, imagining he saw the dim shape of a man on the ridge summit.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading There was no return shot, no visible movement.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no return shot, no visible movement.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading It was deserted, except for tracks already nearly obliterated by the fierce wind.
wind-swept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Reckless, mad with rage, he sprang up the wind-swept side, and reached the crest.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Reckless, mad with rage, he sprang up the wind-swept side, and reached the crest.
