used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was not long, however, before they heard signals ringing through the night a short distance behind them.
ambushverbUS /ˈæmbʊʃ/
wait in hiding to attack
From this reading He believed that the Shawnees would hesitate to follow them far in that direction for fear of being led into an ambush.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He believed that the Shawnees would hesitate to follow them far in that direction for fear of being led into an ambush.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Running Fox immediately took the lead, and turned toward the north.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “The Shawnees are close, we must travel faster,” said Running Fox.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was not long, however, before they heard signals ringing through the night a short distance behind them.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading It was not long, however, before they heard signals ringing through the night a short distance behind them.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He believed that the Shawnees would hesitate to follow them far in that direction for fear of being led into an ambush.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading He believed that the Shawnees would hesitate to follow them far in that direction for fear of being led into an ambush.
in addition to; as well as
From this reading Besides, it was the only direction in which the Delawares could go without sacrificing their lead.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading “The Shawnees are close, we must travel faster,” said Running Fox.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Besides, it was the only direction in which the Delawares could go without sacrificing their lead.
Delawares
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides, it was the only direction in which the Delawares could go without sacrificing their lead.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading He believed that the Shawnees would hesitate to follow them far in that direction for fear of being led into an ambush.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading It was not long, however, before they heard signals ringing through the night a short distance behind them.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading He believed that the Shawnees would hesitate to follow them far in that direction for fear of being led into an ambush.
fasteradverbUS /ˈfæstər/
more quickly
From this reading “The Shawnees are close, we must travel faster,” said Running Fox.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading He believed that the Shawnees would hesitate to follow them far in that direction for fear of being led into an ambush.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading He believed that the Shawnees would hesitate to follow them far in that direction for fear of being led into an ambush.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He believed that the Shawnees would hesitate to follow them far in that direction for fear of being led into an ambush.
alert carnivorous mammal with pointed muzzle and ears and a bushy tail; most are predators that do not hunt in packs
From this reading Running Fox immediately took the lead, and turned toward the north.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Besides, it was the only direction in which the Delawares could go without sacrificing their lead.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He believed that the Shawnees would hesitate to follow them far in that direction for fear of being led into an ambush.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading It was not long, however, before they heard signals ringing through the night a short distance behind them.
hesitateverbUS /ˈhezəteɪt/
pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading He believed that the Shawnees would hesitate to follow them far in that direction for fear of being led into an ambush.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading It was not long, however, before they heard signals ringing through the night a short distance behind them.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Running Fox immediately took the lead, and turned toward the north.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He believed that the Shawnees would hesitate to follow them far in that direction for fear of being led into an ambush.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He believed that the Shawnees would hesitate to follow them far in that direction for fear of being led into an ambush.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Besides, it was the only direction in which the Delawares could go without sacrificing their lead.
take somebody somewhere
From this reading Running Fox immediately took the lead, and turned toward the north.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading He believed that the Shawnees would hesitate to follow them far in that direction for fear of being led into an ambush.
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 It was not long, however, before they heard signals ringing through the night a short distance behind them.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “The Shawnees are close, we must travel faster,” said Running Fox.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading It was not long, however, before they heard signals ringing through the night a short distance behind them.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Running Fox immediately took the lead, and turned toward the north.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not long, however, before they heard signals ringing through the night a short distance behind them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He believed that the Shawnees would hesitate to follow them far in that direction for fear of being led into an ambush.
and nothing more
From this reading Besides, it was the only direction in which the Delawares could go without sacrificing their lead.
ringingnounUS /ˈrɪŋɪŋ/
the sound of a bell ringing
From this reading It was not long, however, before they heard signals ringing through the night a short distance behind them.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading Running Fox immediately took the lead, and turned toward the north.
sacrificingverbUS /ˈsækrəfaɪsɪŋ/
-ing form of “sacrifice” — endure the loss of
From this reading Besides, it was the only direction in which the Delawares could go without sacrificing their lead.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “The Shawnees are close, we must travel faster,” said Running Fox.
Shawnees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He believed that the Shawnees would hesitate to follow them far in that direction for fear of being led into an ambush.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading It was not long, however, before they heard signals ringing through the night a short distance behind them.
signalsnounUS /ˈsɪɡnəlz/
plural of “signal” — any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading It was not long, however, before they heard signals ringing through the night a short distance behind them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He believed that the Shawnees would hesitate to follow them far in that direction for fear of being led into an ambush.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Running Fox immediately took the lead, and turned toward the north.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Besides, it was the only direction in which the Delawares could go without sacrificing their lead.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He believed that the Shawnees would hesitate to follow them far in that direction for fear of being led into an ambush.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was not long, however, before they heard signals ringing through the night a short distance behind them.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading It was not long, however, before they heard signals ringing through the night a short distance behind them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He believed that the Shawnees would hesitate to follow them far in that direction for fear of being led into an ambush.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Running Fox immediately took the lead, and turned toward the north.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Running Fox immediately took the lead, and turned toward the north.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “The Shawnees are close, we must travel faster,” said Running Fox.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Running Fox immediately took the lead, and turned toward the north.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Besides, it was the only direction in which the Delawares could go without sacrificing their lead.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “The Shawnees are close, we must travel faster,” said Running Fox.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Besides, it was the only direction in which the Delawares could go without sacrificing their lead.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Besides, it was the only direction in which the Delawares could go without sacrificing their lead.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He believed that the Shawnees would hesitate to follow them far in that direction for fear of being led into an ambush.
