used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A Narrow Escape Lying about on the stone floor were at least ten human skeletons, which were white with age.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A Narrow Escape Lying about on the stone floor were at least ten human skeletons, which were white with age.
how long something has existed
From this reading A Narrow Escape Lying about on the stone floor were at least ten human skeletons, which were white with age.
aimlesslyadverbUS /ˈeɪmləsli/
without aim; in an aimless manner
From this reading They were in no fixed positions, but were scattered aimlessly over the dusty floor.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Perhaps they are the remains of soldiers who guarded this tower," was the opinion of Dr. Rander.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Wonder how they got here?" he asked.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A Narrow Escape Lying about on the stone floor were at least ten human skeletons, which were white with age.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading Bob was the first to break the silence.
terminate
From this reading Bob was the first to break the silence.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They were in no fixed positions, but were scattered aimlessly over the dusty floor.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Perhaps they are the remains of soldiers who guarded this tower," was the opinion of Dr. Rander.
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading They were in no fixed positions, but were scattered aimlessly over the dusty floor.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading A Narrow Escape Lying about on the stone floor were at least ten human skeletons, which were white with age.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Bob was the first to break the silence.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading They were in no fixed positions, but were scattered aimlessly over the dusty floor.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading A Narrow Escape Lying about on the stone floor were at least ten human skeletons, which were white with age.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Wonder how they got here?" he asked.
guardedadjectiveUS /ˈɡɑːrdəd/
prudent
From this reading "Perhaps they are the remains of soldiers who guarded this tower," was the opinion of Dr. Rander.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Wonder how they got here?" he asked.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "Wonder how they got here?" he asked.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Wonder how they got here?" he asked.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading A Narrow Escape Lying about on the stone floor were at least ten human skeletons, which were white with age.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were in no fixed positions, but were scattered aimlessly over the dusty floor.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading A Narrow Escape Lying about on the stone floor were at least ten human skeletons, which were white with age.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading A Narrow Escape Lying about on the stone floor were at least ten human skeletons, which were white with age.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading A Narrow Escape Lying about on the stone floor were at least ten human skeletons, which were white with age.
not any; not one
From this reading They were in no fixed positions, but were scattered aimlessly over the dusty floor.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Perhaps they are the remains of soldiers who guarded this tower," was the opinion of Dr. Rander.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A Narrow Escape Lying about on the stone floor were at least ten human skeletons, which were white with age.
a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading "Perhaps they are the remains of soldiers who guarded this tower," was the opinion of Dr. Rander.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading They were in no fixed positions, but were scattered aimlessly over the dusty floor.
by chance
From this reading "Perhaps they are the remains of soldiers who guarded this tower," was the opinion of Dr. Rander.
positionsnounUS /pəˈzɪʃənz/
plural of “position” — the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading They were in no fixed positions, but were scattered aimlessly over the dusty floor.
Rander
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Perhaps they are the remains of soldiers who guarded this tower," was the opinion of Dr. Rander.
any object that is left unused or still extant
From this reading "Perhaps they are the remains of soldiers who guarded this tower," was the opinion of Dr. Rander.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading They were in no fixed positions, but were scattered aimlessly over the dusty floor.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Bob was the first to break the silence.
skeletonsnounUS /ˈskelətənz/
plural of “skeleton” — something reduced to its minimal form
From this reading A Narrow Escape Lying about on the stone floor were at least ten human skeletons, which were white with age.
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading "Perhaps they are the remains of soldiers who guarded this tower," was the opinion of Dr. Rander.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading A Narrow Escape Lying about on the stone floor were at least ten human skeletons, which were white with age.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading A Narrow Escape Lying about on the stone floor were at least ten human skeletons, which were white with age.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A Narrow Escape Lying about on the stone floor were at least ten human skeletons, which were white with age.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were in no fixed positions, but were scattered aimlessly over the dusty floor.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Perhaps they are the remains of soldiers who guarded this tower," was the opinion of Dr. Rander.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Bob was the first to break the silence.
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading "Perhaps they are the remains of soldiers who guarded this tower," was the opinion of Dr. Rander.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Bob was the first to break the silence.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A Narrow Escape Lying about on the stone floor were at least ten human skeletons, which were white with age.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A Narrow Escape Lying about on the stone floor were at least ten human skeletons, which were white with age.
a Caucasian
From this reading A Narrow Escape Lying about on the stone floor were at least ten human skeletons, which were white with age.
which person or people
From this reading "Perhaps they are the remains of soldiers who guarded this tower," was the opinion of Dr. Rander.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A Narrow Escape Lying about on the stone floor were at least ten human skeletons, which were white with age.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading "Wonder how they got here?" he asked.
