used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “It would be awkward if some of these guns were to jam just when we were in the middle of a scrimmage with the people over there,” he observed, after he had pronounced them all right.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “It would be awkward if some of these guns were to jam just when we were in the middle of a scrimmage with the people over there,” he observed, after he had pronounced them all right.
(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 All the rifles had been cleaned and oiled by Nick Carter and his two assistants.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
assistantsnounUS /əˈsɪstənts/
plural of “assistant” — a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading All the rifles had been cleaned and oiled by Nick Carter and his two assistants.
awkwardadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkwərd/
causing inconvenience
From this reading “It would be awkward if some of these guns were to jam just when we were in the middle of a scrimmage with the people over there,” he observed, after he had pronounced them all right.
baggagenounUS /ˈbæɡədʒ/
cases used to carry belongings when traveling
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading All the rifles had been cleaned and oiled by Nick Carter and his two assistants.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading All the rifles had been cleaned and oiled by Nick Carter and his two assistants.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading Then the former had inspected them all carefully.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
CarternounUS /ˈkɑːrtər/
Englishman and Egyptologist who in 1922 discovered and excavated the tomb of Tutankhamen (1873-1939)
From this reading All the rifles had been cleaned and oiled by Nick Carter and his two assistants.
cleanedverbUS /kliːnd/
past form of “clean” — make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from
From this reading All the rifles had been cleaned and oiled by Nick Carter and his two assistants.
every person
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
foothillsnounUS /ˈfʊthɪlz/
plural of “foothill” — a relatively low hill on the lower slope of a mountain
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading Then the former had inspected them all carefully.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading “It would be awkward if some of these guns were to jam just when we were in the middle of a scrimmage with the people over there,” he observed, after he had pronounced them all right.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading All the rifles had been cleaned and oiled by Nick Carter and his two assistants.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “It would be awkward if some of these guns were to jam just when we were in the middle of a scrimmage with the people over there,” he observed, after he had pronounced them all right.
not accessible to view
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading All the rifles had been cleaned and oiled by Nick Carter and his two assistants.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “It would be awkward if some of these guns were to jam just when we were in the middle of a scrimmage with the people over there,” he observed, after he had pronounced them all right.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
inspectedverbUS /ˌɪnˈspektɪd/
past form of “inspect” — look over carefully
From this reading Then the former had inspected them all carefully.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It would be awkward if some of these guns were to jam just when we were in the middle of a scrimmage with the people over there,” he observed, after he had pronounced them all right.
jamverbUS /dʒæm/
press tightly together or cram
From this reading “It would be awkward if some of these guns were to jam just when we were in the middle of a scrimmage with the people over there,” he observed, after he had pronounced them all right.
and nothing more
From this reading “It would be awkward if some of these guns were to jam just when we were in the middle of a scrimmage with the people over there,” he observed, after he had pronounced them all right.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading “It would be awkward if some of these guns were to jam just when we were in the middle of a scrimmage with the people over there,” he observed, after he had pronounced them all right.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
NickverbUS /nɪk/
cut slightly, with a razor
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading “It would be awkward if some of these guns were to jam just when we were in the middle of a scrimmage with the people over there,” he observed, after he had pronounced them all right.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
oiledadjectiveUS /ɔɪld/
treated with oil
From this reading All the rifles had been cleaned and oiled by Nick Carter and his two assistants.
OVERprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading OVER THE PRECIPICE.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading “It would be awkward if some of these guns were to jam just when we were in the middle of a scrimmage with the people over there,” he observed, after he had pronounced them all right.
past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
PRECIPICEnounUS /ˈpresəpəs/
a very steep cliff
From this reading OVER THE PRECIPICE.
pronouncedadjectiveUS /prəˈnaʊnst/
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading “It would be awkward if some of these guns were to jam just when we were in the middle of a scrimmage with the people over there,” he observed, after he had pronounced them all right.
reedsnounUS /riːdz/
plural of “reed” — tall woody perennial grasses with hollow slender stems especially of the genera Arundo and Phragmites
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
ridgesnounUS /ˈrɪdʒəz/
plural of “ridge” — a long narrow natural elevation or striation
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
riflesnounUS /ˈraɪfəlz/
plural of “rifle” — a shoulder firearm with a long barrel and a rifled bore
From this reading All the rifles had been cleaned and oiled by Nick Carter and his two assistants.
precisely, exactly
From this reading “It would be awkward if some of these guns were to jam just when we were in the middle of a scrimmage with the people over there,” he observed, after he had pronounced them all right.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
scrimmagenounUS /ˈskrɪmɪdʒ/
(American football) practice play between a football team's squads
From this reading “It would be awkward if some of these guns were to jam just when we were in the middle of a scrimmage with the people over there,” he observed, after he had pronounced them all right.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading OVER THE PRECIPICE.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Then the former had inspected them all carefully.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the former had inspected them all carefully.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “It would be awkward if some of these guns were to jam just when we were in the middle of a scrimmage with the people over there,” he observed, after he had pronounced them all right.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “It would be awkward if some of these guns were to jam just when we were in the middle of a scrimmage with the people over there,” he observed, after he had pronounced them all right.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “It would be awkward if some of these guns were to jam just when we were in the middle of a scrimmage with the people over there,” he observed, after he had pronounced them all right.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading All the rifles had been cleaned and oiled by Nick Carter and his two assistants.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “It would be awkward if some of these guns were to jam just when we were in the middle of a scrimmage with the people over there,” he observed, after he had pronounced them all right.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “It would be awkward if some of these guns were to jam just when we were in the middle of a scrimmage with the people over there,” he observed, after he had pronounced them all right.
at the time that
From this reading “It would be awkward if some of these guns were to jam just when we were in the middle of a scrimmage with the people over there,” he observed, after he had pronounced them all right.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With the boat hidden in the reeds which grew along the river shore, and everybody carrying some of the baggage that Nick believed might be required, the party plunged into the foothills and slowly arose toward the lower ridges of the mountains.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “It would be awkward if some of these guns were to jam just when we were in the middle of a scrimmage with the people over there,” he observed, after he had pronounced them all right.
