used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Rodney Gray held his breath and listened, and then he stepped close to the side of the stable and looked through a crack between the logs.
abreastadjectiveUS /əˈbrest/
being up to particular standard or level especially in being up to date in knowledge
From this reading They knew enough to move two abreast but not enough to carry their guns, which were held over their shoulders at all angles, and pointed in almost every direction.
(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 They knew enough to move two abreast but not enough to carry their guns, which were held over their shoulders at all angles, and pointed in almost every direction.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Rodney Gray held his breath and listened, and then he stepped close to the side of the stable and looked through a crack between the logs.
anglesnounUS /ˈæŋɡəlz/
plural of “angle” — the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians
From this reading They knew enough to move two abreast but not enough to carry their guns, which were held over their shoulders at all angles, and pointed in almost every direction.
Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Are they guerrillas?" he asked, at length.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Are they guerrillas?" he asked, at length.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They knew enough to move two abreast but not enough to carry their guns, which were held over their shoulders at all angles, and pointed in almost every direction.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Rodney Gray held his breath and listened, and then he stepped close to the side of the stable and looked through a crack between the logs.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading Rodney Gray held his breath and listened, and then he stepped close to the side of the stable and looked through a crack between the logs.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading They knew enough to move two abreast but not enough to carry their guns, which were held over their shoulders at all angles, and pointed in almost every direction.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Rodney Gray held his breath and listened, and then he stepped close to the side of the stable and looked through a crack between the logs.
COMPARINGnounUS /kəmˈperɪŋ/
the act of examining resemblances
From this reading COMPARING NOTES.
determine the number or amount of
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
crackverbUS /kræk/
become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
From this reading Rodney Gray held his breath and listened, and then he stepped close to the side of the stable and looked through a crack between the logs.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading They knew enough to move two abreast but not enough to carry their guns, which were held over their shoulders at all angles, and pointed in almost every direction.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
divisible by two
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading They knew enough to move two abreast but not enough to carry their guns, which were held over their shoulders at all angles, and pointed in almost every direction.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading Rodney Gray held his breath and listened, and then he stepped close to the side of the stable and looked through a crack between the logs.
guerrillasnounUS /ɡərˈɪləz/
plural of “guerrilla” — a member of an irregular armed force that fights a stronger force by sabotage and harassment
From this reading "Are they guerrillas?" he asked, at length.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading They knew enough to move two abreast but not enough to carry their guns, which were held over their shoulders at all angles, and pointed in almost every direction.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Rodney Gray held his breath and listened, and then he stepped close to the side of the stable and looked through a crack between the logs.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Rodney Gray held his breath and listened, and then he stepped close to the side of the stable and looked through a crack between the logs.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Rodney Gray held his breath and listened, and then he stepped close to the side of the stable and looked through a crack between the logs.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They knew enough to move two abreast but not enough to carry their guns, which were held over their shoulders at all angles, and pointed in almost every direction.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading They knew enough to move two abreast but not enough to carry their guns, which were held over their shoulders at all angles, and pointed in almost every direction.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading "Are they guerrillas?" he asked, at length.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading Rodney Gray held his breath and listened, and then he stepped close to the side of the stable and looked through a crack between the logs.
logsnounUS /lɔːɡz/
plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches
From this reading Rodney Gray held his breath and listened, and then he stepped close to the side of the stable and looked through a crack between the logs.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Rodney Gray held his breath and listened, and then he stepped close to the side of the stable and looked through a crack between the logs.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
the force of workers available
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading They knew enough to move two abreast but not enough to carry their guns, which were held over their shoulders at all angles, and pointed in almost every direction.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They knew enough to move two abreast but not enough to carry their guns, which were held over their shoulders at all angles, and pointed in almost every direction.
plural of “note” — a brief written record
From this reading COMPARING NOTES.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Rodney Gray held his breath and listened, and then he stepped close to the side of the stable and looked through a crack between the logs.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading They knew enough to move two abreast but not enough to carry their guns, which were held over their shoulders at all angles, and pointed in almost every direction.
having a point
From this reading They knew enough to move two abreast but not enough to carry their guns, which were held over their shoulders at all angles, and pointed in almost every direction.
the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
Rodney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rodney Gray held his breath and listened, and then he stepped close to the side of the stable and looked through a crack between the logs.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading They knew enough to move two abreast but not enough to carry their guns, which were held over their shoulders at all angles, and pointed in almost every direction.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Rodney Gray held his breath and listened, and then he stepped close to the side of the stable and looked through a crack between the logs.
stableadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪbəl/
resistant to change of position or condition
From this reading Rodney Gray held his breath and listened, and then he stepped close to the side of the stable and looked through a crack between the logs.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading Rodney Gray held his breath and listened, and then he stepped close to the side of the stable and looked through a crack between the logs.
not in physical motion
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Rodney Gray held his breath and listened, and then he stepped close to the side of the stable and looked through a crack between the logs.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They knew enough to move two abreast but not enough to carry their guns, which were held over their shoulders at all angles, and pointed in almost every direction.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Rodney Gray held his breath and listened, and then he stepped close to the side of the stable and looked through a crack between the logs.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They knew enough to move two abreast but not enough to carry their guns, which were held over their shoulders at all angles, and pointed in almost every direction.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Rodney Gray held his breath and listened, and then he stepped close to the side of the stable and looked through a crack between the logs.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Rodney Gray held his breath and listened, and then he stepped close to the side of the stable and looked through a crack between the logs.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading They knew enough to move two abreast but not enough to carry their guns, which were held over their shoulders at all angles, and pointed in almost every direction.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They knew enough to move two abreast but not enough to carry their guns, which were held over their shoulders at all angles, and pointed in almost every direction.
which person or people
From this reading It was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an even dozen of them.
