used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A shout went up from the soldiers who stood in groups in the street of the ruined town.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Round about the shrapnel burst in little puffs like cotton-wool.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading A whistle split the air, followed by a rending snort that tailed off into the moaning of a wounded man.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The three planes gleamed like mica in the intense blue of the sky.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading Round about the shrapnel burst in little puffs like cotton-wool.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A whistle split the air, followed by a rending snort that tailed off into the moaning of a wounded man.
cotton-wool
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Round about the shrapnel burst in little puffs like cotton-wool.
damnadjectiveUS /dæm/
used as expletives
From this reading "By damn, they're nervy.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading A whistle split the air, followed by a rending snort that tailed off into the moaning of a wounded man.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A shout went up from the soldiers who stood in groups in the street of the ruined town.
gleamedverbUS /ɡliːmd/
past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading The three planes gleamed like mica in the intense blue of the sky.
groupsnounUS /ɡruːps/
plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading A shout went up from the soldiers who stood in groups in the street of the ruined town.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The three planes gleamed like mica in the intense blue of the sky.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading The three planes gleamed like mica in the intense blue of the sky.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A whistle split the air, followed by a rending snort that tailed off into the moaning of a wounded man.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The three planes gleamed like mica in the intense blue of the sky.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Round about the shrapnel burst in little puffs like cotton-wool.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A whistle split the air, followed by a rending snort that tailed off into the moaning of a wounded man.
micanounUS /ˈmaɪkə/
any of various minerals consisting of hydrous silicates of aluminum or potassium etc. that crystallize in forms that allow perfect cleavage into very thin leaves; used as dielectrics because of their resistance to electricity
From this reading The three planes gleamed like mica in the intense blue of the sky.
moaningverbUS /ˈmoʊnɪŋ/
-ing form of “moan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
From this reading A whistle split the air, followed by a rending snort that tailed off into the moaning of a wounded man.
nervyadjectiveUS /ˈnɜːrvi/
being in a tense state
From this reading "By damn, they're nervy.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The three planes gleamed like mica in the intense blue of the sky.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A whistle split the air, followed by a rending snort that tailed off into the moaning of a wounded man.
planesnounUS /pleɪnz/
plural of “plane” — an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading The three planes gleamed like mica in the intense blue of the sky.
puffsnounUS /pʌfs/
plural of “puff” — a short light gust of air
From this reading Round about the shrapnel burst in little puffs like cotton-wool.
rendingadjectiveUS /ˈrendɪŋ/
resembling a sound of violent tearing as of something ripped apart or lightning splitting a tree
From this reading A whistle split the air, followed by a rending snort that tailed off into the moaning of a wounded man.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Round about the shrapnel burst in little puffs like cotton-wool.
destroyed physically or morally
From this reading A shout went up from the soldiers who stood in groups in the street of the ruined town.
utter in a loud voice; talk in a loud voice (usually denoting characteristic manner of speaking)
From this reading A shout went up from the soldiers who stood in groups in the street of the ruined town.
shrapnelnounUS /ˈʃræpnəl/
shell containing lead pellets that explodes in flight
From this reading Round about the shrapnel burst in little puffs like cotton-wool.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The three planes gleamed like mica in the intense blue of the sky.
snortverbUS /snɔːrt/
indicate contempt by breathing noisily and forcefully through the nose
From this reading A whistle split the air, followed by a rending snort that tailed off into the moaning of a wounded man.
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading A shout went up from the soldiers who stood in groups in the street of the ruined town.
splitverbUS /splɪt/
separate into parts or portions
From this reading A whistle split the air, followed by a rending snort that tailed off into the moaning of a wounded man.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading A shout went up from the soldiers who stood in groups in the street of the ruined town.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading A shout went up from the soldiers who stood in groups in the street of the ruined town.
tailedadjectiveUS /teɪld/
having a tail of a specified kind; often used in combination
From this reading A whistle split the air, followed by a rending snort that tailed off into the moaning of a wounded man.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A whistle split the air, followed by a rending snort that tailed off into the moaning of a wounded man.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The three planes gleamed like mica in the intense blue of the sky.
they're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "By damn, they're nervy.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The three planes gleamed like mica in the intense blue of the sky.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading A shout went up from the soldiers who stood in groups in the street of the ruined town.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A shout went up from the soldiers who stood in groups in the street of the ruined town.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading A shout went up from the soldiers who stood in groups in the street of the ruined town.
whistleverbUS /ˈwɪsəl/
make whistling sounds
From this reading A whistle split the air, followed by a rending snort that tailed off into the moaning of a wounded man.
which person or people
From this reading A shout went up from the soldiers who stood in groups in the street of the ruined town.
people who are wounded
From this reading A whistle split the air, followed by a rending snort that tailed off into the moaning of a wounded man.
