used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was at the back of the house, and a high picket fence around the place made it impossible for him to escape by the front-way, towards which the savages had gone.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The two Indians who had startled Sam, were on the point of entering the old dwelling house, and seemingly were unaccompanied by any others.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The two Indians who had startled Sam, were on the point of entering the old dwelling house, and seemingly were unaccompanied by any others.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading He was at the back of the house, and a high picket fence around the place made it impossible for him to escape by the front-way, towards which the savages had gone.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was at the back of the house, and a high picket fence around the place made it impossible for him to escape by the front-way, towards which the savages had gone.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He was at the back of the house, and a high picket fence around the place made it impossible for him to escape by the front-way, towards which the savages had gone.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Sam happened fortunately to be standing in shadow, and they passed without seeing him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But what was he now to do?
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The two Indians who had startled Sam, were on the point of entering the old dwelling house, and seemingly were unaccompanied by any others.
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading CONFUSED.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But what was he now to do?
dwellingnounUS /ˈdwelɪŋ/
housing that someone is living in
From this reading The two Indians who had startled Sam, were on the point of entering the old dwelling house, and seemingly were unaccompanied by any others.
a movement into or inward
From this reading The two Indians who had startled Sam, were on the point of entering the old dwelling house, and seemingly were unaccompanied by any others.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading He was at the back of the house, and a high picket fence around the place made it impossible for him to escape by the front-way, towards which the savages had gone.
enclose with a fence
From this reading He was at the back of the house, and a high picket fence around the place made it impossible for him to escape by the front-way, towards which the savages had gone.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was at the back of the house, and a high picket fence around the place made it impossible for him to escape by the front-way, towards which the savages had gone.
fortunatelyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənətli/
by good fortune
From this reading Sam happened fortunately to be standing in shadow, and they passed without seeing him.
front-way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was at the back of the house, and a high picket fence around the place made it impossible for him to escape by the front-way, towards which the savages had gone.
destroyed or killed
From this reading He was at the back of the house, and a high picket fence around the place made it impossible for him to escape by the front-way, towards which the savages had gone.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The two Indians who had startled Sam, were on the point of entering the old dwelling house, and seemingly were unaccompanied by any others.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Sam happened fortunately to be standing in shadow, and they passed without seeing him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But what was he now to do?
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading He was at the back of the house, and a high picket fence around the place made it impossible for him to escape by the front-way, towards which the savages had gone.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Sam happened fortunately to be standing in shadow, and they passed without seeing him.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The two Indians who had startled Sam, were on the point of entering the old dwelling house, and seemingly were unaccompanied by any others.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading He was at the back of the house, and a high picket fence around the place made it impossible for him to escape by the front-way, towards which the savages had gone.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Sam happened fortunately to be standing in shadow, and they passed without seeing him.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading The two Indians who had startled Sam, were on the point of entering the old dwelling house, and seemingly were unaccompanied by any others.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He was at the back of the house, and a high picket fence around the place made it impossible for him to escape by the front-way, towards which the savages had gone.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He was at the back of the house, and a high picket fence around the place made it impossible for him to escape by the front-way, towards which the savages had gone.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But what was he now to do?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The two Indians who had startled Sam, were on the point of entering the old dwelling house, and seemingly were unaccompanied by any others.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The two Indians who had startled Sam, were on the point of entering the old dwelling house, and seemingly were unaccompanied by any others.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The two Indians who had startled Sam, were on the point of entering the old dwelling house, and seemingly were unaccompanied by any others.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two Indians who had startled Sam, were on the point of entering the old dwelling house, and seemingly were unaccompanied by any others.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Sam happened fortunately to be standing in shadow, and they passed without seeing him.
picketnounUS /ˈpɪkɪt/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading He was at the back of the house, and a high picket fence around the place made it impossible for him to escape by the front-way, towards which the savages had gone.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He was at the back of the house, and a high picket fence around the place made it impossible for him to escape by the front-way, towards which the savages had gone.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading The two Indians who had startled Sam, were on the point of entering the old dwelling house, and seemingly were unaccompanied by any others.
a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
From this reading The two Indians who had startled Sam, were on the point of entering the old dwelling house, and seemingly were unaccompanied by any others.
savagesnounUS /ˈsævədʒəz/
plural of “savage” — a member of an uncivilized people
From this reading He was at the back of the house, and a high picket fence around the place made it impossible for him to escape by the front-way, towards which the savages had gone.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading Sam happened fortunately to be standing in shadow, and they passed without seeing him.
seeminglyadverbUS /ˈsiːmɪŋli/
from appearances alone
From this reading The two Indians who had startled Sam, were on the point of entering the old dwelling house, and seemingly were unaccompanied by any others.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Sam happened fortunately to be standing in shadow, and they passed without seeing him.
having a supporting base
From this reading Sam happened fortunately to be standing in shadow, and they passed without seeing him.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading The two Indians who had startled Sam, were on the point of entering the old dwelling house, and seemingly were unaccompanied by any others.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The two Indians who had startled Sam, were on the point of entering the old dwelling house, and seemingly were unaccompanied by any others.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sam happened fortunately to be standing in shadow, and they passed without seeing him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Sam happened fortunately to be standing in shadow, and they passed without seeing him.
in the direction of
From this reading He was at the back of the house, and a high picket fence around the place made it impossible for him to escape by the front-way, towards which the savages had gone.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two Indians who had startled Sam, were on the point of entering the old dwelling house, and seemingly were unaccompanied by any others.
unaccompaniedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈkʌmpənid/
being without an escort
From this reading The two Indians who had startled Sam, were on the point of entering the old dwelling house, and seemingly were unaccompanied by any others.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But what was he now to do?
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The two Indians who had startled Sam, were on the point of entering the old dwelling house, and seemingly were unaccompanied by any others.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But what was he now to do?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was at the back of the house, and a high picket fence around the place made it impossible for him to escape by the front-way, towards which the savages had gone.
which person or people
From this reading The two Indians who had startled Sam, were on the point of entering the old dwelling house, and seemingly were unaccompanied by any others.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Sam happened fortunately to be standing in shadow, and they passed without seeing him.
