used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a faint stir in the air now that was not of human origin, and the dew was cold; he knew that the dawn would break soon.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About half-way to the steep summit the trees fell away and a hard saddle of rock spread itself over the diamond beneath.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading There was a faint stir in the air now that was not of human origin, and the dew was cold; he knew that the dawn would break soon.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading About half-way to the steep summit the trees fell away and a hard saddle of rock spread itself over the diamond beneath.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading About half-way to the steep summit the trees fell away and a hard saddle of rock spread itself over the diamond beneath.
terminate
From this reading There was a faint stir in the air now that was not of human origin, and the dew was cold; he knew that the dawn would break soon.
breathlessadjectiveUS /ˈbreθləs/
not breathing or able to breathe except with difficulty
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading There was a faint stir in the air now that was not of human origin, and the dew was cold; he knew that the dawn would break soon.
the first light of day
From this reading There was a faint stir in the air now that was not of human origin, and the dew was cold; he knew that the dawn would break soon.
dewnounUS /duː/
water that has condensed on a cool surface overnight from water vapor in the air
From this reading There was a faint stir in the air now that was not of human origin, and the dew was cold; he knew that the dawn would break soon.
diamondnounUS /ˈdaɪmənd/
a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading About half-way to the steep summit the trees fell away and a hard saddle of rock spread itself over the diamond beneath.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading John waited until the steps had gone a safe distance up the mountain and were inaudible.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading There was a faint stir in the air now that was not of human origin, and the dew was cold; he knew that the dawn would break soon.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading About half-way to the steep summit the trees fell away and a hard saddle of rock spread itself over the diamond beneath.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
destroyed or killed
From this reading John waited until the steps had gone a safe distance up the mountain and were inaudible.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
half-way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About half-way to the steep summit the trees fell away and a hard saddle of rock spread itself over the diamond beneath.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading About half-way to the steep summit the trees fell away and a hard saddle of rock spread itself over the diamond beneath.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading There was a faint stir in the air now that was not of human origin, and the dew was cold; he knew that the dawn would break soon.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
inaudibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnɔːdəbəl/
impossible to hear; imperceptible by the ear
From this reading John waited until the steps had gone a safe distance up the mountain and were inaudible.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading About half-way to the steep summit the trees fell away and a hard saddle of rock spread itself over the diamond beneath.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading John waited until the steps had gone a safe distance up the mountain and were inaudible.
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 There was a faint stir in the air now that was not of human origin, and the dew was cold; he knew that the dawn would break soon.
in the recent past
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading John waited until the steps had gone a safe distance up the mountain and were inaudible.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was a faint stir in the air now that was not of human origin, and the dew was cold; he knew that the dawn would break soon.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading There was a faint stir in the air now that was not of human origin, and the dew was cold; he knew that the dawn would break soon.
held or filled or in use
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
originnounUS /ˈɔːrədʒən/
the place where something begins, where it springs into being
From this reading There was a faint stir in the air now that was not of human origin, and the dew was cold; he knew that the dawn would break soon.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading About half-way to the steep summit the trees fell away and a hard saddle of rock spread itself over the diamond beneath.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
a course of conduct
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading About half-way to the steep summit the trees fell away and a hard saddle of rock spread itself over the diamond beneath.
put a saddle on
From this reading About half-way to the steep summit the trees fell away and a hard saddle of rock spread itself over the diamond beneath.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading John waited until the steps had gone a safe distance up the mountain and were inaudible.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
in the near future
From this reading There was a faint stir in the air now that was not of human origin, and the dew was cold; he knew that the dawn would break soon.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading About half-way to the steep summit the trees fell away and a hard saddle of rock spread itself over the diamond beneath.
steepadjectiveUS /stiːp/
having a sharp inclination
From this reading About half-way to the steep summit the trees fell away and a hard saddle of rock spread itself over the diamond beneath.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading John waited until the steps had gone a safe distance up the mountain and were inaudible.
move an implement through
From this reading There was a faint stir in the air now that was not of human origin, and the dew was cold; he knew that the dawn would break soon.
summitnounUS /ˈsʌmət/
the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading About half-way to the steep summit the trees fell away and a hard saddle of rock spread itself over the diamond beneath.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was a faint stir in the air now that was not of human origin, and the dew was cold; he knew that the dawn would break soon.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he followed.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a faint stir in the air now that was not of human origin, and the dew was cold; he knew that the dawn would break soon.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading About half-way to the steep summit the trees fell away and a hard saddle of rock spread itself over the diamond beneath.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading John waited until the steps had gone a safe distance up the mountain and were inaudible.
vantage-point
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading John waited until the steps had gone a safe distance up the mountain and were inaudible.
at the time that
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was long after four when he became aware of footsteps along the path they had lately followed, and he waited in breathless silence until the persons to whom they belonged had passed the vantage-point he occupied.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There was a faint stir in the air now that was not of human origin, and the dew was cold; he knew that the dawn would break soon.
