used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR When twilight finally fell, Running Fox and his companions carried the canoe to the river.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading They were watchful and alert for danger, but the river appeared free of foes.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It was almost dark when they came opposite the spot where they expected to find their friends.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Then Running Fox paddled slowly along the edge of the shore.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR When twilight finally fell, Running Fox and his companions carried the canoe to the river.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading They were watchful and alert for danger, but the river appeared free of foes.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They were watchful and alert for danger, but the river appeared free of foes.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It was almost dark when they came opposite the spot where they expected to find their friends.
small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR When twilight finally fell, Running Fox and his companions carried the canoe to the river.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR When twilight finally fell, Running Fox and his companions carried the canoe to the river.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR When twilight finally fell, Running Fox and his companions carried the canoe to the river.
a body serving in an administrative capacity
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR When twilight finally fell, Running Fox and his companions carried the canoe to the river.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading They were watchful and alert for danger, but the river appeared free of foes.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It was almost dark when they came opposite the spot where they expected to find their friends.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading Then Running Fox paddled slowly along the edge of the shore.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading It was almost dark when they came opposite the spot where they expected to find their friends.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR When twilight finally fell, Running Fox and his companions carried the canoe to the river.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR When twilight finally fell, Running Fox and his companions carried the canoe to the river.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading It was almost dark when they came opposite the spot where they expected to find their friends.
foesnounUS /foʊz/
plural of “foe” — an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)
From this reading They were watchful and alert for danger, but the river appeared free of foes.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They were watchful and alert for danger, but the river appeared free of foes.
set up or found
From this reading They launched it and found it water-tight.
alert carnivorous mammal with pointed muzzle and ears and a bushy tail; most are predators that do not hunt in packs
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR When twilight finally fell, Running Fox and his companions carried the canoe to the river.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading They were watchful and alert for danger, but the river appeared free of foes.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading It was almost dark when they came opposite the spot where they expected to find their friends.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR When twilight finally fell, Running Fox and his companions carried the canoe to the river.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They launched it and found it water-tight.
launchedverbUS /lɔːntʃt/
past form of “launch” — set up or found
From this reading They launched it and found it water-tight.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR When twilight finally fell, Running Fox and his companions carried the canoe to the river.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading It was almost dark when they came opposite the spot where they expected to find their friends.
paddledverbUS /ˈpædəld/
past form of “paddle” — propel with a paddle
From this reading Then Running Fox paddled slowly along the edge of the shore.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR When twilight finally fell, Running Fox and his companions carried the canoe to the river.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR When twilight finally fell, Running Fox and his companions carried the canoe to the river.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading Then Running Fox paddled slowly along the edge of the shore.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Then Running Fox paddled slowly along the edge of the shore.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It was almost dark when they came opposite the spot where they expected to find their friends.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR When twilight finally fell, Running Fox and his companions carried the canoe to the river.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It was almost dark when they came opposite the spot where they expected to find their friends.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then Running Fox paddled slowly along the edge of the shore.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They launched it and found it water-tight.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR When twilight finally fell, Running Fox and his companions carried the canoe to the river.
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR When twilight finally fell, Running Fox and his companions carried the canoe to the river.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR When twilight finally fell, Running Fox and his companions carried the canoe to the river.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was almost dark when they came opposite the spot where they expected to find their friends.
watchfuladjectiveUS /ˈwɑːtʃfəl/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading They were watchful and alert for danger, but the river appeared free of foes.
water-tight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They launched it and found it water-tight.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were watchful and alert for danger, but the river appeared free of foes.
at the time that
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR When twilight finally fell, Running Fox and his companions carried the canoe to the river.
in or at the place that
From this reading It was almost dark when they came opposite the spot where they expected to find their friends.
