used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But war and a plague had destroyed civilization, leaving humans as-- Johnny Hope backed off warily, retreating toward the sun-dried creek bed, a jagged brown scar across the parched grassland.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He carried no weapon and as the others closed in about him in a tightening semi-circle his eyes darted furtively in all directions.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading But war and a plague had destroyed civilization, leaving humans as-- Johnny Hope backed off warily, retreating toward the sun-dried creek bed, a jagged brown scar across the parched grassland.
(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 He carried no weapon and as the others closed in about him in a tightening semi-circle his eyes darted furtively in all directions.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But war and a plague had destroyed civilization, leaving humans as-- Johnny Hope backed off warily, retreating toward the sun-dried creek bed, a jagged brown scar across the parched grassland.
armiesnounUS /ˈɑːrmiz/
plural of “army” — a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading Johnny Hope knew the robot armies had been created to serve Man.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But war and a plague had destroyed civilization, leaving humans as-- Johnny Hope backed off warily, retreating toward the sun-dried creek bed, a jagged brown scar across the parched grassland.
backedadjectiveUS /bækt/
having a back or backing, usually of a specified type
From this reading But war and a plague had destroyed civilization, leaving humans as-- Johnny Hope backed off warily, retreating toward the sun-dried creek bed, a jagged brown scar across the parched grassland.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading But war and a plague had destroyed civilization, leaving humans as-- Johnny Hope backed off warily, retreating toward the sun-dried creek bed, a jagged brown scar across the parched grassland.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Johnny Hope knew the robot armies had been created to serve Man.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading But war and a plague had destroyed civilization, leaving humans as-- Johnny Hope backed off warily, retreating toward the sun-dried creek bed, a jagged brown scar across the parched grassland.
buryverbUS /ˈberi/
cover from sight
From this reading Johnny licked his lips and said, "I want to bury them.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But war and a plague had destroyed civilization, leaving humans as-- Johnny Hope backed off warily, retreating toward the sun-dried creek bed, a jagged brown scar across the parched grassland.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading He carried no weapon and as the others closed in about him in a tightening semi-circle his eyes darted furtively in all directions.
civilizationnounUS /ˌsɪvəlɪˈzeɪʃən/
a society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)
From this reading But war and a plague had destroyed civilization, leaving humans as-- Johnny Hope backed off warily, retreating toward the sun-dried creek bed, a jagged brown scar across the parched grassland.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading He carried no weapon and as the others closed in about him in a tightening semi-circle his eyes darted furtively in all directions.
createdverbUS /kriˈeɪtəd/
past form of “create” — make or cause to be or to become
From this reading Johnny Hope knew the robot armies had been created to serve Man.
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading But war and a plague had destroyed civilization, leaving humans as-- Johnny Hope backed off warily, retreating toward the sun-dried creek bed, a jagged brown scar across the parched grassland.
dartedverbUS /ˈdɑːrtɪd/
past form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading He carried no weapon and as the others closed in about him in a tightening semi-circle his eyes darted furtively in all directions.
spoiled or ruined or demolished
From this reading But war and a plague had destroyed civilization, leaving humans as-- Johnny Hope backed off warily, retreating toward the sun-dried creek bed, a jagged brown scar across the parched grassland.
plural of “direction” — a line leading to a place or point
From this reading He carried no weapon and as the others closed in about him in a tightening semi-circle his eyes darted furtively in all directions.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He carried no weapon and as the others closed in about him in a tightening semi-circle his eyes darted furtively in all directions.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading But all the faces were stamped, as from a mold, with uncompromising hostility.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But all the faces were stamped, as from a mold, with uncompromising hostility.
furtivelyadverbUS /ˈfɜːrtɪvli/
in a furtive manner
From this reading He carried no weapon and as the others closed in about him in a tightening semi-circle his eyes darted furtively in all directions.
grasslandnounUS /ˈɡræslænd/
land where grass or grasslike vegetation grows and is the dominant form of plant life
From this reading But war and a plague had destroyed civilization, leaving humans as-- Johnny Hope backed off warily, retreating toward the sun-dried creek bed, a jagged brown scar across the parched grassland.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Johnny Hope knew the robot armies had been created to serve Man.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He carried no weapon and as the others closed in about him in a tightening semi-circle his eyes darted furtively in all directions.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He carried no weapon and as the others closed in about him in a tightening semi-circle his eyes darted furtively in all directions.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He carried no weapon and as the others closed in about him in a tightening semi-circle his eyes darted furtively in all directions.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Johnny Hope knew the robot armies had been created to serve Man.
hostilitynounUS /hɑːˈstɪləti/
a hostile (very unfriendly) disposition
From this reading But all the faces were stamped, as from a mold, with uncompromising hostility.
humansnounUS /ˈhjuːmənz/
all of the living human inhabitants of the earth
From this reading But war and a plague had destroyed civilization, leaving humans as-- Johnny Hope backed off warily, retreating toward the sun-dried creek bed, a jagged brown scar across the parched grassland.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Johnny licked his lips and said, "I want to bury them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He carried no weapon and as the others closed in about him in a tightening semi-circle his eyes darted furtively in all directions.
jaggedadjectiveUS /ˈdʒæɡəd/
having a sharply uneven surface or outline
From this reading But war and a plague had destroyed civilization, leaving humans as-- Johnny Hope backed off warily, retreating toward the sun-dried creek bed, a jagged brown scar across the parched grassland.
“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading Johnny Hope knew the robot armies had been created to serve Man.
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 Johnny Hope knew the robot armies had been created to serve Man.
the act of departing
From this reading But war and a plague had destroyed civilization, leaving humans as-- Johnny Hope backed off warily, retreating toward the sun-dried creek bed, a jagged brown scar across the parched grassland.
lickedadjectiveUS /lɪkt/
having been got the better of
From this reading Johnny licked his lips and said, "I want to bury them.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading Johnny licked his lips and said, "I want to bury them.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Johnny Hope knew the robot armies had been created to serve Man.
moldnounUS /moʊld/
the distinctive form in which a thing is made
From this reading But all the faces were stamped, as from a mold, with uncompromising hostility.
not any; not one
From this reading He carried no weapon and as the others closed in about him in a tightening semi-circle his eyes darted furtively in all directions.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading But war and a plague had destroyed civilization, leaving humans as-- Johnny Hope backed off warily, retreating toward the sun-dried creek bed, a jagged brown scar across the parched grassland.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried no weapon and as the others closed in about him in a tightening semi-circle his eyes darted furtively in all directions.
parchedadjectiveUS /pɑːrtʃt/
dried out by heat or excessive exposure to sunlight
From this reading But war and a plague had destroyed civilization, leaving humans as-- Johnny Hope backed off warily, retreating toward the sun-dried creek bed, a jagged brown scar across the parched grassland.
plagueverbUS /pleɪɡ/
cause to suffer a blight
From this reading But war and a plague had destroyed civilization, leaving humans as-- Johnny Hope backed off warily, retreating toward the sun-dried creek bed, a jagged brown scar across the parched grassland.
retreatingverbUS /riˈtriːtɪŋ/
-ing form of “retreat” — pull back or move away or backward
From this reading But war and a plague had destroyed civilization, leaving humans as-- Johnny Hope backed off warily, retreating toward the sun-dried creek bed, a jagged brown scar across the parched grassland.
robotnounUS /ˈroʊbɑːt/
a mechanism that can move automatically
From this reading Johnny Hope knew the robot armies had been created to serve Man.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Johnny licked his lips and said, "I want to bury them.
scarnounUS /skɑːr/
a mark left (usually on the skin) by the healing of injured tissue
From this reading But war and a plague had destroyed civilization, leaving humans as-- Johnny Hope backed off warily, retreating toward the sun-dried creek bed, a jagged brown scar across the parched grassland.
semi-circle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried no weapon and as the others closed in about him in a tightening semi-circle his eyes darted furtively in all directions.
serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading Johnny Hope knew the robot armies had been created to serve Man.
stampedverbUS /stæmpt/
past form of “stamp” — walk heavily
From this reading But all the faces were stamped, as from a mold, with uncompromising hostility.
sun-driedadjective
dried naturally by the sun
From this reading But war and a plague had destroyed civilization, leaving humans as-- Johnny Hope backed off warily, retreating toward the sun-dried creek bed, a jagged brown scar across the parched grassland.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Johnny Hope knew the robot armies had been created to serve Man.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Johnny licked his lips and said, "I want to bury them.
tighteningnounUS /ˈtaɪtənɪŋ/
the act of making something tighter
From this reading He carried no weapon and as the others closed in about him in a tightening semi-circle his eyes darted furtively in all directions.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Johnny Hope knew the robot armies had been created to serve Man.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading But war and a plague had destroyed civilization, leaving humans as-- Johnny Hope backed off warily, retreating toward the sun-dried creek bed, a jagged brown scar across the parched grassland.
uncompromisingadjectiveUS /ənˈkɑːmprəmaɪzɪŋ/
not making concessions
From this reading But all the faces were stamped, as from a mold, with uncompromising hostility.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading Johnny licked his lips and said, "I want to bury them.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading But war and a plague had destroyed civilization, leaving humans as-- Johnny Hope backed off warily, retreating toward the sun-dried creek bed, a jagged brown scar across the parched grassland.
warilyadverbUS /ˈwerəli/
in a wary manner
From this reading But war and a plague had destroyed civilization, leaving humans as-- Johnny Hope backed off warily, retreating toward the sun-dried creek bed, a jagged brown scar across the parched grassland.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading He carried no weapon and as the others closed in about him in a tightening semi-circle his eyes darted furtively in all directions.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But all the faces were stamped, as from a mold, with uncompromising hostility.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But all the faces were stamped, as from a mold, with uncompromising hostility.
