used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading WINNING A FIGHT After Sanderson shot the big man who had tried to rush him, there was a silence in the defile.
achedverbUS /eɪkt/
past form of “ache” — feel physical pain
From this reading For two hours Sanderson clung to his precarious position in the fissure, until his muscles ached with the strain and his eyes blurred because of the constant vigil.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading WINNING A FIGHT After Sanderson shot the big man who had tried to rush him, there was a silence in the defile.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Those of Dale's men who had positions of security held them, not exposing themselves to the deadly fire of Sanderson and the others.
for the reason that
From this reading For two hours Sanderson clung to his precarious position in the fissure, until his muscles ached with the strain and his eyes blurred because of the constant vigil.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading The third hour was beginning when Sanderson saw a puff of smoke burst from behind a rock held by one of his men; he heard the crash of a pistol, and saw one of Dale's men flop into view from behind a rock near him.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The third hour was beginning when Sanderson saw a puff of smoke burst from behind a rock held by one of his men; he heard the crash of a pistol, and saw one of Dale's men flop into view from behind a rock near him.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading WINNING A FIGHT After Sanderson shot the big man who had tried to rush him, there was a silence in the defile.
blurredadjectiveUS /blɜːrd/
indistinct or hazy in outline
From this reading For two hours Sanderson clung to his precarious position in the fissure, until his muscles ached with the strain and his eyes blurred because of the constant vigil.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading The third hour was beginning when Sanderson saw a puff of smoke burst from behind a rock held by one of his men; he heard the crash of a pistol, and saw one of Dale's men flop into view from behind a rock near him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he grimly held the place, knowing that upon him depended in a large measure the safety of the men on the opposite side of the defile.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The third hour was beginning when Sanderson saw a puff of smoke burst from behind a rock held by one of his men; he heard the crash of a pistol, and saw one of Dale's men flop into view from behind a rock near him.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading For two hours Sanderson clung to his precarious position in the fissure, until his muscles ached with the strain and his eyes blurred because of the constant vigil.
unvarying in nature
From this reading For two hours Sanderson clung to his precarious position in the fissure, until his muscles ached with the strain and his eyes blurred because of the constant vigil.
crashverbUS /kræʃ/
fall or come down violently
From this reading The third hour was beginning when Sanderson saw a puff of smoke burst from behind a rock held by one of his men; he heard the crash of a pistol, and saw one of Dale's men flop into view from behind a rock near him.
Dale'snounUS /deɪlz/
possessive form of “dale” — an open river valley (in a hilly area)
From this reading Those of Dale's men who had positions of security held them, not exposing themselves to the deadly fire of Sanderson and the others.
causing or capable of causing death
From this reading Those of Dale's men who had positions of security held them, not exposing themselves to the deadly fire of Sanderson and the others.
defileverb
place under suspicion or cast doubt upon
From this reading WINNING A FIGHT After Sanderson shot the big man who had tried to rush him, there was a silence in the defile.
dependedverbUS /dɪˈpendəd/
past form of “depend” — be contingent upon (something that is elided)
From this reading But he grimly held the place, knowing that upon him depended in a large measure the safety of the men on the opposite side of the defile.
exposingverbUS /ɪkˈspoʊzɪŋ/
-ing form of “expose” — expose or make accessible to some action or influence
From this reading Those of Dale's men who had positions of security held them, not exposing themselves to the deadly fire of Sanderson and the others.
opinion or judgment
From this reading For two hours Sanderson clung to his precarious position in the fissure, until his muscles ached with the strain and his eyes blurred because of the constant vigil.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading WINNING A FIGHT After Sanderson shot the big man who had tried to rush him, there was a silence in the defile.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Those of Dale's men who had positions of security held them, not exposing themselves to the deadly fire of Sanderson and the others.
fissurenounUS /ˈfɪʃər/
a long narrow depression in a surface
From this reading For two hours Sanderson clung to his precarious position in the fissure, until his muscles ached with the strain and his eyes blurred because of the constant vigil.
flopverbUS /flɑːp/
fall loosely
From this reading The third hour was beginning when Sanderson saw a puff of smoke burst from behind a rock held by one of his men; he heard the crash of a pistol, and saw one of Dale's men flop into view from behind a rock near him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For two hours Sanderson clung to his precarious position in the fissure, until his muscles ached with the strain and his eyes blurred because of the constant vigil.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The third hour was beginning when Sanderson saw a puff of smoke burst from behind a rock held by one of his men; he heard the crash of a pistol, and saw one of Dale's men flop into view from behind a rock near him.
grimlyadverbUS /ˈɡrɪmli/
in a grim implacable manner
From this reading But he grimly held the place, knowing that upon him depended in a large measure the safety of the men on the opposite side of the defile.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading WINNING A FIGHT After Sanderson shot the big man who had tried to rush him, there was a silence in the defile.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But he grimly held the place, knowing that upon him depended in a large measure the safety of the men on the opposite side of the defile.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The third hour was beginning when Sanderson saw a puff of smoke burst from behind a rock held by one of his men; he heard the crash of a pistol, and saw one of Dale's men flop into view from behind a rock near him.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Those of Dale's men who had positions of security held them, not exposing themselves to the deadly fire of Sanderson and the others.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading WINNING A FIGHT After Sanderson shot the big man who had tried to rush him, there was a silence in the defile.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For two hours Sanderson clung to his precarious position in the fissure, until his muscles ached with the strain and his eyes blurred because of the constant vigil.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading The third hour was beginning when Sanderson saw a puff of smoke burst from behind a rock held by one of his men; he heard the crash of a pistol, and saw one of Dale's men flop into view from behind a rock near him.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading For two hours Sanderson clung to his precarious position in the fissure, until his muscles ached with the strain and his eyes blurred because of the constant vigil.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WINNING A FIGHT After Sanderson shot the big man who had tried to rush him, there was a silence in the defile.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The third hour was beginning when Sanderson saw a puff of smoke burst from behind a rock held by one of his men; he heard the crash of a pistol, and saw one of Dale's men flop into view from behind a rock near him.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading But he grimly held the place, knowing that upon him depended in a large measure the safety of the men on the opposite side of the defile.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But he grimly held the place, knowing that upon him depended in a large measure the safety of the men on the opposite side of the defile.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading WINNING A FIGHT After Sanderson shot the big man who had tried to rush him, there was a silence in the defile.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading But he grimly held the place, knowing that upon him depended in a large measure the safety of the men on the opposite side of the defile.
the force of workers available
From this reading Those of Dale's men who had positions of security held them, not exposing themselves to the deadly fire of Sanderson and the others.
musclesnounUS /ˈmʌsəlz/
plural of “muscle” — one of the contractile organs of the body
From this reading For two hours Sanderson clung to his precarious position in the fissure, until his muscles ached with the strain and his eyes blurred because of the constant vigil.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading The third hour was beginning when Sanderson saw a puff of smoke burst from behind a rock held by one of his men; he heard the crash of a pistol, and saw one of Dale's men flop into view from behind a rock near him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Those of Dale's men who had positions of security held them, not exposing themselves to the deadly fire of Sanderson and the others.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Those of Dale's men who had positions of security held them, not exposing themselves to the deadly fire of Sanderson and the others.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But he grimly held the place, knowing that upon him depended in a large measure the safety of the men on the opposite side of the defile.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The third hour was beginning when Sanderson saw a puff of smoke burst from behind a rock held by one of his men; he heard the crash of a pistol, and saw one of Dale's men flop into view from behind a rock near him.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading But he grimly held the place, knowing that upon him depended in a large measure the safety of the men on the opposite side of the defile.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those of Dale's men who had positions of security held them, not exposing themselves to the deadly fire of Sanderson and the others.
pistolnounUS /ˈpɪstəl/
a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading The third hour was beginning when Sanderson saw a puff of smoke burst from behind a rock held by one of his men; he heard the crash of a pistol, and saw one of Dale's men flop into view from behind a rock near him.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading But he grimly held the place, knowing that upon him depended in a large measure the safety of the men on the opposite side of the defile.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading For two hours Sanderson clung to his precarious position in the fissure, until his muscles ached with the strain and his eyes blurred because of the constant vigil.
positionsnounUS /pəˈzɪʃənz/
plural of “position” — the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Those of Dale's men who had positions of security held them, not exposing themselves to the deadly fire of Sanderson and the others.
precariousadjectiveUS /priˈkeriəs/
affording no ease or reassurance
From this reading For two hours Sanderson clung to his precarious position in the fissure, until his muscles ached with the strain and his eyes blurred because of the constant vigil.
puffverbUS /pʌf/
smoke and exhale strongly
From this reading The third hour was beginning when Sanderson saw a puff of smoke burst from behind a rock held by one of his men; he heard the crash of a pistol, and saw one of Dale's men flop into view from behind a rock near him.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading The third hour was beginning when Sanderson saw a puff of smoke burst from behind a rock held by one of his men; he heard the crash of a pistol, and saw one of Dale's men flop into view from behind a rock near him.
move hurridly
From this reading WINNING A FIGHT After Sanderson shot the big man who had tried to rush him, there was a silence in the defile.
the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions
From this reading But he grimly held the place, knowing that upon him depended in a large measure the safety of the men on the opposite side of the defile.
Sanderson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WINNING A FIGHT After Sanderson shot the big man who had tried to rush him, there was a silence in the defile.
cut with a saw
From this reading The third hour was beginning when Sanderson saw a puff of smoke burst from behind a rock held by one of his men; he heard the crash of a pistol, and saw one of Dale's men flop into view from behind a rock near him.
securitynounUS /sɪˈkjʊrəti/
the state of being free from danger or injury
From this reading Those of Dale's men who had positions of security held them, not exposing themselves to the deadly fire of Sanderson and the others.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading WINNING A FIGHT After Sanderson shot the big man who had tried to rush him, there was a silence in the defile.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading But he grimly held the place, knowing that upon him depended in a large measure the safety of the men on the opposite side of the defile.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading WINNING A FIGHT After Sanderson shot the big man who had tried to rush him, there was a silence in the defile.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading The third hour was beginning when Sanderson saw a puff of smoke burst from behind a rock held by one of his men; he heard the crash of a pistol, and saw one of Dale's men flop into view from behind a rock near him.
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading For two hours Sanderson clung to his precarious position in the fissure, until his muscles ached with the strain and his eyes blurred because of the constant vigil.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But he grimly held the place, knowing that upon him depended in a large measure the safety of the men on the opposite side of the defile.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WINNING A FIGHT After Sanderson shot the big man who had tried to rush him, there was a silence in the defile.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Those of Dale's men who had positions of security held them, not exposing themselves to the deadly fire of Sanderson and the others.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Those of Dale's men who had positions of security held them, not exposing themselves to the deadly fire of Sanderson and the others.
in or at that place or location
From this reading WINNING A FIGHT After Sanderson shot the big man who had tried to rush him, there was a silence in the defile.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading The third hour was beginning when Sanderson saw a puff of smoke burst from behind a rock held by one of his men; he heard the crash of a pistol, and saw one of Dale's men flop into view from behind a rock near him.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Those of Dale's men who had positions of security held them, not exposing themselves to the deadly fire of Sanderson and the others.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading WINNING A FIGHT After Sanderson shot the big man who had tried to rush him, there was a silence in the defile.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading WINNING A FIGHT After Sanderson shot the big man who had tried to rush him, there was a silence in the defile.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading For two hours Sanderson clung to his precarious position in the fissure, until his muscles ached with the strain and his eyes blurred because of the constant vigil.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading For two hours Sanderson clung to his precarious position in the fissure, until his muscles ached with the strain and his eyes blurred because of the constant vigil.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But he grimly held the place, knowing that upon him depended in a large measure the safety of the men on the opposite side of the defile.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading The third hour was beginning when Sanderson saw a puff of smoke burst from behind a rock held by one of his men; he heard the crash of a pistol, and saw one of Dale's men flop into view from behind a rock near him.
vigilnounUS /ˈvɪdʒəl/
a period of sleeplessness
From this reading For two hours Sanderson clung to his precarious position in the fissure, until his muscles ached with the strain and his eyes blurred because of the constant vigil.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WINNING A FIGHT After Sanderson shot the big man who had tried to rush him, there was a silence in the defile.
at the time that
From this reading The third hour was beginning when Sanderson saw a puff of smoke burst from behind a rock held by one of his men; he heard the crash of a pistol, and saw one of Dale's men flop into view from behind a rock near him.
which person or people
From this reading WINNING A FIGHT After Sanderson shot the big man who had tried to rush him, there was a silence in the defile.
WINNINGadjectiveUS /ˈwɪnɪŋ/
having won
From this reading WINNING A FIGHT After Sanderson shot the big man who had tried to rush him, there was a silence in the defile.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For two hours Sanderson clung to his precarious position in the fissure, until his muscles ached with the strain and his eyes blurred because of the constant vigil.
