used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The villagers on the hills slept in a false security.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Spies had hung about the river all day; but the preparations had no meaning for them, except that they probably signalized an early departure.
(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 Spies had hung about the river all day; but the preparations had no meaning for them, except that they probably signalized an early departure.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Spies had hung about the river all day; but the preparations had no meaning for them, except that they probably signalized an early departure.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Forty Englishmen, with Indian carriers and scouts, stole out from the river-side camp under the clear light of the tropical stars.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading They had witnessed the arrival of the other boat, and had sped to their chieftain with the news.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading THE ATTACK ON THE VILLAGE.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading They had witnessed the arrival of the other boat, and had sped to their chieftain with the news.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Spies had hung about the river all day; but the preparations had no meaning for them, except that they probably signalized an early departure.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading Forty Englishmen, with Indian carriers and scouts, stole out from the river-side camp under the clear light of the tropical stars.
carriersnounUS /ˈkæriərz/
plural of “carrier” — someone whose employment involves carrying something
From this reading Forty Englishmen, with Indian carriers and scouts, stole out from the river-side camp under the clear light of the tropical stars.
chieftainnounUS /ˈtʃiːftən/
the leader of a group of people
From this reading They had witnessed the arrival of the other boat, and had sped to their chieftain with the news.
rid of obstructions
From this reading Forty Englishmen, with Indian carriers and scouts, stole out from the river-side camp under the clear light of the tropical stars.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Spies had hung about the river all day; but the preparations had no meaning for them, except that they probably signalized an early departure.
the act of departing
From this reading Spies had hung about the river all day; but the preparations had no meaning for them, except that they probably signalized an early departure.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Spies had hung about the river all day; but the preparations had no meaning for them, except that they probably signalized an early departure.
EnglishmennounUS /ˌeŋˈlɪʃmən/
plural of “englishman” — a man who is a native or inhabitant of England
From this reading Forty Englishmen, with Indian carriers and scouts, stole out from the river-side camp under the clear light of the tropical stars.
apart from; not including
From this reading Spies had hung about the river all day; but the preparations had no meaning for them, except that they probably signalized an early departure.
not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality
From this reading The villagers on the hills slept in a false security.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Spies had hung about the river all day; but the preparations had no meaning for them, except that they probably signalized an early departure.
FortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading Forty Englishmen, with Indian carriers and scouts, stole out from the river-side camp under the clear light of the tropical stars.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Forty Englishmen, with Indian carriers and scouts, stole out from the river-side camp under the clear light of the tropical stars.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Spies had hung about the river all day; but the preparations had no meaning for them, except that they probably signalized an early departure.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading The villagers on the hills slept in a false security.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Spies had hung about the river all day; but the preparations had no meaning for them, except that they probably signalized an early departure.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The villagers on the hills slept in a false security.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading Forty Englishmen, with Indian carriers and scouts, stole out from the river-side camp under the clear light of the tropical stars.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Forty Englishmen, with Indian carriers and scouts, stole out from the river-side camp under the clear light of the tropical stars.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading Spies had hung about the river all day; but the preparations had no meaning for them, except that they probably signalized an early departure.
information about recent and important events
From this reading They had witnessed the arrival of the other boat, and had sped to their chieftain with the news.
not any; not one
From this reading Spies had hung about the river all day; but the preparations had no meaning for them, except that they probably signalized an early departure.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Forty Englishmen, with Indian carriers and scouts, stole out from the river-side camp under the clear light of the tropical stars.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE ATTACK ON THE VILLAGE.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading They had witnessed the arrival of the other boat, and had sped to their chieftain with the news.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Forty Englishmen, with Indian carriers and scouts, stole out from the river-side camp under the clear light of the tropical stars.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading Spies had hung about the river all day; but the preparations had no meaning for them, except that they probably signalized an early departure.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Spies had hung about the river all day; but the preparations had no meaning for them, except that they probably signalized an early departure.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Spies had hung about the river all day; but the preparations had no meaning for them, except that they probably signalized an early departure.
river-side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty Englishmen, with Indian carriers and scouts, stole out from the river-side camp under the clear light of the tropical stars.
scoutsnounUS /skaʊts/
plural of “scout” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading Forty Englishmen, with Indian carriers and scouts, stole out from the river-side camp under the clear light of the tropical stars.
securitynounUS /sɪˈkjʊrəti/
the state of being free from danger or injury
From this reading The villagers on the hills slept in a false security.
signalized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spies had hung about the river all day; but the preparations had no meaning for them, except that they probably signalized an early departure.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading The villagers on the hills slept in a false security.
spedverbUS /sped/
inflected form of “speed” — move hurridly
From this reading They had witnessed the arrival of the other boat, and had sped to their chieftain with the news.
SpiesnounUS /spaɪz/
plural of “spy” — (military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors
From this reading Spies had hung about the river all day; but the preparations had no meaning for them, except that they probably signalized an early departure.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading Forty Englishmen, with Indian carriers and scouts, stole out from the river-side camp under the clear light of the tropical stars.
a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women
From this reading Forty Englishmen, with Indian carriers and scouts, stole out from the river-side camp under the clear light of the tropical stars.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Spies had hung about the river all day; but the preparations had no meaning for them, except that they probably signalized an early departure.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ATTACK ON THE VILLAGE.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They had witnessed the arrival of the other boat, and had sped to their chieftain with the news.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Spies had hung about the river all day; but the preparations had no meaning for them, except that they probably signalized an early departure.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Spies had hung about the river all day; but the preparations had no meaning for them, except that they probably signalized an early departure.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They had witnessed the arrival of the other boat, and had sped to their chieftain with the news.
tropicaladjectiveUS /ˈtrɑːpɪkəl/
relating to or situated in or characteristic of the tropics (the region on either side of the equator)
From this reading Forty Englishmen, with Indian carriers and scouts, stole out from the river-side camp under the clear light of the tropical stars.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Forty Englishmen, with Indian carriers and scouts, stole out from the river-side camp under the clear light of the tropical stars.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading THE ATTACK ON THE VILLAGE.
villagersnounUS /ˈvɪlɪdʒərz/
plural of “villager” — one who has lived in a village most of their life
From this reading The villagers on the hills slept in a false security.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Forty Englishmen, with Indian carriers and scouts, stole out from the river-side camp under the clear light of the tropical stars.
witnessedverbUS /ˈwɪtnəst/
past form of “witness” — be a witness to
From this reading They had witnessed the arrival of the other boat, and had sped to their chieftain with the news.
