used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
at or in the front
From this reading Placing the outer end upon the ground ahead of them as they ran, they leaped and hung upon the cross-piece with their hands.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The whole company did it in concert, and they made almost as great speed as if they had been riding bicycles.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Placing the outer end upon the ground ahead of them as they ran, they leaped and hung upon the cross-piece with their hands.
ArmiesnounUS /ˈɑːrmiz/
plural of “army” — a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The springy resistance of this tough wood imparted to them a forward motion with its rebound, and they scaled great distances at each jump.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The whole company did it in concert, and they made almost as great speed as if they had been riding bicycles.
bicyclesnounUS /ˈbaɪsɪkəlz/
plural of “bicycle” — a wheeled vehicle that has two wheels and is moved by foot pedals
From this reading The whole company did it in concert, and they made almost as great speed as if they had been riding bicycles.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
lacking funds
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
captainsnounUS /ˈkæptənz/
plural of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading The whole company did it in concert, and they made almost as great speed as if they had been riding bicycles.
concertnounUS /ˈkɑːnsərt/
a performance of music by players or singers not involving theatrical staging
From this reading The whole company did it in concert, and they made almost as great speed as if they had been riding bicycles.
consequentlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːnsəkwəntli/
(sentence connectors) because of the reason given
From this reading The slingers were consequently left far in the rear.
cross-bows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
cross-piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Placing the outer end upon the ground ahead of them as they ran, they leaped and hung upon the cross-piece with their hands.
past form of “deliver” — deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
dexteritynounUS /dekˈsterəti/
adroitness in using the hands
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The whole company did it in concert, and they made almost as great speed as if they had been riding bicycles.
distancesnounUS /ˈdɪstənsəz/
plural of “distance” — the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading The springy resistance of this tough wood imparted to them a forward motion with its rebound, and they scaled great distances at each jump.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The springy resistance of this tough wood imparted to them a forward motion with its rebound, and they scaled great distances at each jump.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Placing the outer end upon the ground ahead of them as they ran, they leaped and hung upon the cross-piece with their hands.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The slingers were consequently left far in the rear.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Placing the outer end upon the ground ahead of them as they ran, they leaped and hung upon the cross-piece with their hands.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The whole company did it in concert, and they made almost as great speed as if they had been riding bicycles.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Placing the outer end upon the ground ahead of them as they ran, they leaped and hung upon the cross-piece with their hands.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Placing the outer end upon the ground ahead of them as they ran, they leaped and hung upon the cross-piece with their hands.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The whole company did it in concert, and they made almost as great speed as if they had been riding bicycles.
impartedverbUS /ˌɪmˈpɑːrtɪd/
past form of “impart” — transmit (knowledge or skills)
From this reading The springy resistance of this tough wood imparted to them a forward motion with its rebound, and they scaled great distances at each jump.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The whole company did it in concert, and they made almost as great speed as if they had been riding bicycles.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The springy resistance of this tough wood imparted to them a forward motion with its rebound, and they scaled great distances at each jump.
jumpverbUS /dʒʌmp/
move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading The springy resistance of this tough wood imparted to them a forward motion with its rebound, and they scaled great distances at each jump.
jumpingnounUS /ˈdʒʌmpɪŋ/
the act of participating in an athletic competition in which you must jump
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Placing the outer end upon the ground ahead of them as they ran, they leaped and hung upon the cross-piece with their hands.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The slingers were consequently left far in the rear.
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 The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The whole company did it in concert, and they made almost as great speed as if they had been riding bicycles.
marchingnounUS /ˈmɑːrtʃɪŋ/
the act of marching; walking with regular steps (especially in a procession of some kind)
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
MarsnounUS /mɑːrz/
a small reddish planet that is the 4th from the sun and is periodically visible to the naked eye; minerals rich in iron cover its surface and are responsible for its characteristic color
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading The springy resistance of this tough wood imparted to them a forward motion with its rebound, and they scaled great distances at each jump.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading Placing the outer end upon the ground ahead of them as they ran, they leaped and hung upon the cross-piece with their hands.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
PlacingverbUS /ˈpleɪsɪŋ/
-ing form of “place” — put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Placing the outer end upon the ground ahead of them as they ran, they leaped and hung upon the cross-piece with their hands.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Placing the outer end upon the ground ahead of them as they ran, they leaped and hung upon the cross-piece with their hands.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading The slingers were consequently left far in the rear.
reboundverbUS /riˈbaʊnd/
spring back; spring away from an impact
From this reading The springy resistance of this tough wood imparted to them a forward motion with its rebound, and they scaled great distances at each jump.
resistancenounUS /rɪˈzɪstəns/
the action of opposing something that you disapprove or disagree with
From this reading The springy resistance of this tough wood imparted to them a forward motion with its rebound, and they scaled great distances at each jump.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
ridersnounUS /ˈraɪdərz/
plural of “rider” — a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements
From this reading The whole company did it in concert, and they made almost as great speed as if they had been riding bicycles.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
scaledadjectiveUS /skeɪld/
having the body covered or partially covered with thin horny plates, as some fish and reptiles
From this reading The springy resistance of this tough wood imparted to them a forward motion with its rebound, and they scaled great distances at each jump.
slingers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slingers were consequently left far in the rear.
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
move hurridly
From this reading The whole company did it in concert, and they made almost as great speed as if they had been riding bicycles.
springyadjective
elastic; rebounds readily
From this reading The springy resistance of this tough wood imparted to them a forward motion with its rebound, and they scaled great distances at each jump.
stavesnounUS /steɪvz/
plural of “stave” — (music) the system of five horizontal lines on which the musical notes are written
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Placing the outer end upon the ground ahead of them as they ran, they leaped and hung upon the cross-piece with their hands.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Placing the outer end upon the ground ahead of them as they ran, they leaped and hung upon the cross-piece with their hands.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The springy resistance of this tough wood imparted to them a forward motion with its rebound, and they scaled great distances at each jump.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
toughadjectiveUS /tʌf/
not given to gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading The springy resistance of this tough wood imparted to them a forward motion with its rebound, and they scaled great distances at each jump.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Placing the outer end upon the ground ahead of them as they ran, they leaped and hung upon the cross-piece with their hands.
usingnounUS /ˈjuːzɪŋ/
an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The slingers were consequently left far in the rear.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The whole company did it in concert, and they made almost as great speed as if they had been riding bicycles.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Armies of Mars As the two returning birds passed the marching soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows with great dexterity as jumping staves.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading The springy resistance of this tough wood imparted to them a forward motion with its rebound, and they scaled great distances at each jump.
