used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Directly in front of Reuben five Indians stepped from behind a huge rock and halted his progress.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading Two of them seized his horse by its bridle, while two more advanced upon him, one from each side.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Directly in front of Reuben five Indians stepped from behind a huge rock and halted his progress.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Startled by the unexpected sight, Reuben gazed at the men a moment, and then when he tried to bring his gun to his shoulder his arms were held powerless in the grasp of his captors.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Startled by the unexpected sight, Reuben gazed at the men a moment, and then when he tried to bring his gun to his shoulder his arms were held powerless in the grasp of his captors.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading If he had succeeded he was well aware that instantly he would have been overpowered and doubtless slain by the young redmen.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If he had succeeded he was well aware that instantly he would have been overpowered and doubtless slain by the young redmen.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Directly in front of Reuben five Indians stepped from behind a huge rock and halted his progress.
bridlenounUS /ˈbraɪdəl/
headgear for a horse; includes a headstall and bit and reins to give the rider or driver control
From this reading Two of them seized his horse by its bridle, while two more advanced upon him, one from each side.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Startled by the unexpected sight, Reuben gazed at the men a moment, and then when he tried to bring his gun to his shoulder his arms were held powerless in the grasp of his captors.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Two of them seized his horse by its bridle, while two more advanced upon him, one from each side.
captorsnounUS /ˈkæptərz/
plural of “captor” — a person who captures and holds people or animals
From this reading Startled by the unexpected sight, Reuben gazed at the men a moment, and then when he tried to bring his gun to his shoulder his arms were held powerless in the grasp of his captors.
without deviation
From this reading Directly in front of Reuben five Indians stepped from behind a huge rock and halted his progress.
without doubt; certainly
From this reading If he had succeeded he was well aware that instantly he would have been overpowered and doubtless slain by the young redmen.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Two of them seized his horse by its bridle, while two more advanced upon him, one from each side.
plural of “enemy” — an opposing military force
From this reading A moment later he was thankful that his enemies had prevented him from using his weapon.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Directly in front of Reuben five Indians stepped from behind a huge rock and halted his progress.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Directly in front of Reuben five Indians stepped from behind a huge rock and halted his progress.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Directly in front of Reuben five Indians stepped from behind a huge rock and halted his progress.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Startled by the unexpected sight, Reuben gazed at the men a moment, and then when he tried to bring his gun to his shoulder his arms were held powerless in the grasp of his captors.
hold firmly
From this reading Startled by the unexpected sight, Reuben gazed at the men a moment, and then when he tried to bring his gun to his shoulder his arms were held powerless in the grasp of his captors.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading Startled by the unexpected sight, Reuben gazed at the men a moment, and then when he tried to bring his gun to his shoulder his arms were held powerless in the grasp of his captors.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A moment later he was thankful that his enemies had prevented him from using his weapon.
haltedverbUS /ˈhɔːltəd/
past form of “halt” — cause to stop
From this reading Directly in front of Reuben five Indians stepped from behind a huge rock and halted his progress.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If he had succeeded he was well aware that instantly he would have been overpowered and doubtless slain by the young redmen.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Startled by the unexpected sight, Reuben gazed at the men a moment, and then when he tried to bring his gun to his shoulder his arms were held powerless in the grasp of his captors.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Startled by the unexpected sight, Reuben gazed at the men a moment, and then when he tried to bring his gun to his shoulder his arms were held powerless in the grasp of his captors.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Two of them seized his horse by its bridle, while two more advanced upon him, one from each side.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Directly in front of Reuben five Indians stepped from behind a huge rock and halted his progress.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading Two of them seized his horse by its bridle, while two more advanced upon him, one from each side.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Directly in front of Reuben five Indians stepped from behind a huge rock and halted his progress.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If he had succeeded he was well aware that instantly he would have been overpowered and doubtless slain by the young redmen.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Directly in front of Reuben five Indians stepped from behind a huge rock and halted his progress.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading Directly in front of Reuben five Indians stepped from behind a huge rock and halted his progress.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading If he had succeeded he was well aware that instantly he would have been overpowered and doubtless slain by the young redmen.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Two of them seized his horse by its bridle, while two more advanced upon him, one from each side.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading A moment later he was thankful that his enemies had prevented him from using his weapon.
the force of workers available
From this reading Startled by the unexpected sight, Reuben gazed at the men a moment, and then when he tried to bring his gun to his shoulder his arms were held powerless in the grasp of his captors.
a particular point in time
From this reading Startled by the unexpected sight, Reuben gazed at the men a moment, and then when he tried to bring his gun to his shoulder his arms were held powerless in the grasp of his captors.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Two of them seized his horse by its bridle, while two more advanced upon him, one from each side.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Directly in front of Reuben five Indians stepped from behind a huge rock and halted his progress.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Two of them seized his horse by its bridle, while two more advanced upon him, one from each side.
overpoweredverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈpaʊərd/
past form of “overpower” — overcome by superior force
From this reading If he had succeeded he was well aware that instantly he would have been overpowered and doubtless slain by the young redmen.
powerlessadjectiveUS /ˈpaʊərləs/
lacking power
From this reading Startled by the unexpected sight, Reuben gazed at the men a moment, and then when he tried to bring his gun to his shoulder his arms were held powerless in the grasp of his captors.
preventedverbUS /prɪˈventɪd/
past form of “prevent” — keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading A moment later he was thankful that his enemies had prevented him from using his weapon.
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading Directly in front of Reuben five Indians stepped from behind a huge rock and halted his progress.
redmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he had succeeded he was well aware that instantly he would have been overpowered and doubtless slain by the young redmen.
ReubennounUS /ˈruːbən/
(Old Testment) a son of Jacob and forefather of one of the tribes of Israel
From this reading Directly in front of Reuben five Indians stepped from behind a huge rock and halted his progress.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Directly in front of Reuben five Indians stepped from behind a huge rock and halted his progress.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Two of them seized his horse by its bridle, while two more advanced upon him, one from each side.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading Startled by the unexpected sight, Reuben gazed at the men a moment, and then when he tried to bring his gun to his shoulder his arms were held powerless in the grasp of his captors.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Two of them seized his horse by its bridle, while two more advanced upon him, one from each side.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Startled by the unexpected sight, Reuben gazed at the men a moment, and then when he tried to bring his gun to his shoulder his arms were held powerless in the grasp of his captors.
slainnounUS /sleɪn/
people who have been slain (as in battle)
From this reading If he had succeeded he was well aware that instantly he would have been overpowered and doubtless slain by the young redmen.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading Startled by the unexpected sight, Reuben gazed at the men a moment, and then when he tried to bring his gun to his shoulder his arms were held powerless in the grasp of his captors.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading Directly in front of Reuben five Indians stepped from behind a huge rock and halted his progress.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading If he had succeeded he was well aware that instantly he would have been overpowered and doubtless slain by the young redmen.
thankfuladjectiveUS /ˈθæŋkfəl/
feeling or showing gratitude
From this reading A moment later he was thankful that his enemies had prevented him from using his weapon.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A moment later he was thankful that his enemies had prevented him from using his weapon.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Startled by the unexpected sight, Reuben gazed at the men a moment, and then when he tried to bring his gun to his shoulder his arms were held powerless in the grasp of his captors.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Two of them seized his horse by its bridle, while two more advanced upon him, one from each side.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Startled by the unexpected sight, Reuben gazed at the men a moment, and then when he tried to bring his gun to his shoulder his arms were held powerless in the grasp of his captors.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Startled by the unexpected sight, Reuben gazed at the men a moment, and then when he tried to bring his gun to his shoulder his arms were held powerless in the grasp of his captors.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Startled by the unexpected sight, Reuben gazed at the men a moment, and then when he tried to bring his gun to his shoulder his arms were held powerless in the grasp of his captors.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two of them seized his horse by its bridle, while two more advanced upon him, one from each side.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading Startled by the unexpected sight, Reuben gazed at the men a moment, and then when he tried to bring his gun to his shoulder his arms were held powerless in the grasp of his captors.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Two of them seized his horse by its bridle, while two more advanced upon him, one from each side.
an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)
From this reading A moment later he was thankful that his enemies had prevented him from using his weapon.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A moment later he was thankful that his enemies had prevented him from using his weapon.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading A moment later he was thankful that his enemies had prevented him from using his weapon.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading If he had succeeded he was well aware that instantly he would have been overpowered and doubtless slain by the young redmen.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Startled by the unexpected sight, Reuben gazed at the men a moment, and then when he tried to bring his gun to his shoulder his arms were held powerless in the grasp of his captors.
at the time that
From this reading Startled by the unexpected sight, Reuben gazed at the men a moment, and then when he tried to bring his gun to his shoulder his arms were held powerless in the grasp of his captors.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Two of them seized his horse by its bridle, while two more advanced upon him, one from each side.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If he had succeeded he was well aware that instantly he would have been overpowered and doubtless slain by the young redmen.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading If he had succeeded he was well aware that instantly he would have been overpowered and doubtless slain by the young redmen.
