used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On the third morning Jeremy, on his knees by the hearth fire, was squinting down the bright barrel of a flintlock.
perfect or complete or pure
From this reading Bob felt the tenseness of the situation himself, but he could not understand the other's absolute silence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He scowled as he sat on the floor, and savagely drove a long-bladed hunting-knife into the cracks between the hewn planks.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He scowled as he sat on the floor, and savagely drove a long-bladed hunting-knife into the cracks between the hewn planks.
barrelnounUS /ˈbærəl/
a tube through which a bullet travels when a gun is fired
From this reading On the third morning Jeremy, on his knees by the hearth fire, was squinting down the bright barrel of a flintlock.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been quiet for a long time.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading He scowled as he sat on the floor, and savagely drove a long-bladed hunting-knife into the cracks between the hewn planks.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading Bob felt the tenseness of the situation himself, but he could not understand the other's absolute silence.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading On the third morning Jeremy, on his knees by the hearth fire, was squinting down the bright barrel of a flintlock.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Bob felt the tenseness of the situation himself, but he could not understand the other's absolute silence.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading On the third morning Jeremy, on his knees by the hearth fire, was squinting down the bright barrel of a flintlock.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Bob felt the tenseness of the situation himself, but he could not understand the other's absolute silence.
cracksnounUS /kræks/
plural of “crack” — a long narrow opening
From this reading He scowled as he sat on the floor, and savagely drove a long-bladed hunting-knife into the cracks between the hewn planks.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The fog held for two days.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading On the third morning Jeremy, on his knees by the hearth fire, was squinting down the bright barrel of a flintlock.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading He scowled as he sat on the floor, and savagely drove a long-bladed hunting-knife into the cracks between the hewn planks.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Bob felt the tenseness of the situation himself, but he could not understand the other's absolute silence.
start firing a weapon
From this reading On the third morning Jeremy, on his knees by the hearth fire, was squinting down the bright barrel of a flintlock.
flintlocknounUS /ˈflɪntlɑːk/
a muzzle loader that had a flintlock type of gunlock
From this reading On the third morning Jeremy, on his knees by the hearth fire, was squinting down the bright barrel of a flintlock.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading He scowled as he sat on the floor, and savagely drove a long-bladed hunting-knife into the cracks between the hewn planks.
fognounUS /fɑːɡ/
droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground
From this reading The fog held for two days.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The fog held for two days.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had been quiet for a long time.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been quiet for a long time.
hearthnounUS /hɑːrθ/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading On the third morning Jeremy, on his knees by the hearth fire, was squinting down the bright barrel of a flintlock.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The fog held for two days.
hewnadjectiveUS /hjuːn/
cut or shaped with hard blows of a heavy cutting instrument like an ax or chisel
From this reading He scowled as he sat on the floor, and savagely drove a long-bladed hunting-knife into the cracks between the hewn planks.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Bob felt the tenseness of the situation himself, but he could not understand the other's absolute silence.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading On the third morning Jeremy, on his knees by the hearth fire, was squinting down the bright barrel of a flintlock.
hunting-knife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scowled as he sat on the floor, and savagely drove a long-bladed hunting-knife into the cracks between the hewn planks.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He scowled as he sat on the floor, and savagely drove a long-bladed hunting-knife into the cracks between the hewn planks.
Jeremy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the third morning Jeremy, on his knees by the hearth fire, was squinting down the bright barrel of a flintlock.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading On the third morning Jeremy, on his knees by the hearth fire, was squinting down the bright barrel of a flintlock.
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 He had been quiet for a long time.
long-bladed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scowled as he sat on the floor, and savagely drove a long-bladed hunting-knife into the cracks between the hewn planks.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading On the third morning Jeremy, on his knees by the hearth fire, was squinting down the bright barrel of a flintlock.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Bob felt the tenseness of the situation himself, but he could not understand the other's absolute silence.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the third morning Jeremy, on his knees by the hearth fire, was squinting down the bright barrel of a flintlock.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the third morning Jeremy, on his knees by the hearth fire, was squinting down the bright barrel of a flintlock.
other's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bob felt the tenseness of the situation himself, but he could not understand the other's absolute silence.
planksnounUS /plæŋks/
plural of “plank” — a stout length of sawn timber; made in a wide variety of sizes and used for many purposes
From this reading He scowled as he sat on the floor, and savagely drove a long-bladed hunting-knife into the cracks between the hewn planks.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading He had been quiet for a long time.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He scowled as he sat on the floor, and savagely drove a long-bladed hunting-knife into the cracks between the hewn planks.
savagelyadverbUS /ˈsævɪdʒli/
in a vicious manner
From this reading He scowled as he sat on the floor, and savagely drove a long-bladed hunting-knife into the cracks between the hewn planks.
scowledverbUS /skaʊld/
past form of “scowl” — frown with displeasure
From this reading He scowled as he sat on the floor, and savagely drove a long-bladed hunting-knife into the cracks between the hewn planks.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Bob felt the tenseness of the situation himself, but he could not understand the other's absolute silence.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading Bob felt the tenseness of the situation himself, but he could not understand the other's absolute silence.
squintingadjectiveUS /ˈskwɪntɪŋ/
having eyes half closed in order to see better
From this reading On the third morning Jeremy, on his knees by the hearth fire, was squinting down the bright barrel of a flintlock.
tensenessnoun
the physical condition of being stretched or strained
From this reading Bob felt the tenseness of the situation himself, but he could not understand the other's absolute silence.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The fog held for two days.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading On the third morning Jeremy, on his knees by the hearth fire, was squinting down the bright barrel of a flintlock.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He had been quiet for a long time.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The fog held for two days.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading Bob felt the tenseness of the situation himself, but he could not understand the other's absolute silence.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On the third morning Jeremy, on his knees by the hearth fire, was squinting down the bright barrel of a flintlock.
