used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
acutelyadverbUS /əˈkjuːtli/
in a keen or penetrating way
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
anew
From this reading MOUNTED AGAIN.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading We stumbled along, close up, for the thick-piled clouds still hung their light-obscuring banners over the sky.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading Three yards apart we became invisible to each other.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
bannersnounUS /ˈbænərz/
plural of “banner” — long strip of cloth or paper used for decoration or advertising
From this reading We stumbled along, close up, for the thick-piled clouds still hung their light-obscuring banners over the sky.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Three yards apart we became invisible to each other.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
bootnounUS /buːt/
footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
calfnounUS /kæf/
young of domestic cattle
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading We stumbled along, close up, for the thick-piled clouds still hung their light-obscuring banners over the sky.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading We stumbled along, close up, for the thick-piled clouds still hung their light-obscuring banners over the sky.
intentionally conceived
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
cottonwoodnounUS /ˈkɑːtənwʊd/
any of several North American trees of the genus Populus having a tuft of cottony hairs on the seed
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
coulee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
disablingadjectiveUS /dɪˈseɪbəlɪŋ/
that cripples or disables or incapacitates
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Three yards apart we became invisible to each other.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We stumbled along, close up, for the thick-piled clouds still hung their light-obscuring banners over the sky.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
yet to be or coming
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
the act of departing
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
guessingnounUS /ˈɡesɪŋ/
an estimate based on little or no information
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
haphazardadjectiveUS /hæpˈhæzərd/
dependent upon or characterized by chance
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
ten 10s
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading We stumbled along, close up, for the thick-piled clouds still hung their light-obscuring banners over the sky.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
invisibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/
impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye
From this reading Three yards apart we became invisible to each other.
lackedverbUS /lækt/
past form of “lack” — be without
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
light-obscuring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We stumbled along, close up, for the thick-piled clouds still hung their light-obscuring banners over the sky.
limbnounUS /lɪm/
one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
MacRae
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
march in a procession
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
mechanicallyadverbUS /məˈkænɪkli/
in a mechanical manner; by a mechanism
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support
From this reading MOUNTED AGAIN.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Three yards apart we became invisible to each other.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading We stumbled along, close up, for the thick-piled clouds still hung their light-obscuring banners over the sky.
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
projectingadjectiveUS /prəˈdʒektɪŋ/
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
semi-detachment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading We stumbled along, close up, for the thick-piled clouds still hung their light-obscuring banners over the sky.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
stealthyadjectiveUS /ˈstelθi/
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
not in physical motion
From this reading We stumbled along, close up, for the thick-piled clouds still hung their light-obscuring banners over the sky.
StridingverbUS /ˈstraɪdɪŋ/
-ing form of “stride” — walk with long steps
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
stumbledverbUS /ˈstʌmbəld/
past form of “stumble” — walk unsteadily
From this reading We stumbled along, close up, for the thick-piled clouds still hung their light-obscuring banners over the sky.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We stumbled along, close up, for the thick-piled clouds still hung their light-obscuring banners over the sky.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading We stumbled along, close up, for the thick-piled clouds still hung their light-obscuring banners over the sky.
thick-piled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We stumbled along, close up, for the thick-piled clouds still hung their light-obscuring banners over the sky.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Three yards apart we became invisible to each other.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Three yards apart we became invisible to each other.
trippedverbUS /trɪpt/
inflected form of “trip” — miss a step and fall or nearly fall
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading We stumbled along, close up, for the thick-piled clouds still hung their light-obscuring banners over the sky.
the topmost one of two
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading I followed behind MacRae more or less mechanically, though I was, in a way, acutely conscious of the necessity for stealthy going, one part of my mind busy turning over the quick march of events and guessing haphazard at the future.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We stumbled along, close up, for the thick-piled clouds still hung their light-obscuring banners over the sky.
an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)
From this reading Striding along in this mental semi-detachment from the business in hand, some three hundred yards down the coulee I tripped over a fallen cottonwood and drove the point of a projecting limb clean through the upper of my boot and into the calf of my leg--not a disabling wound, but one that lacked nothing in the way of pain.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Three yards apart we became invisible to each other.
