used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The convicts were evidently keeping as keen a watch as the besieged to guard against the possibility of any of them escaping.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The convicts were evidently keeping as keen a watch as the besieged to guard against the possibility of any of them escaping.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The convicts were evidently keeping as keen a watch as the besieged to guard against the possibility of any of them escaping.
on or to one side
From this reading Aside from this incident the besieged were not disturbed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
besiegedadjectiveUS /bɪˈsiːdʒd/
surrounded by hostile forces
From this reading Aside from this incident the besieged were not disturbed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
convictsnounUS /ˈkɑːnvɪkts/
plural of “convict” — a person serving a sentence in a jail or prison
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
having the place or position changed
From this reading Only once during the night were the watchers disturbed.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Only once during the night were the watchers disturbed.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
emptiedverbUS /ˈemptid/
inflected form of “empty” — make void or empty of contents
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
endeavoredverbUS /ɪnˈdevərd/
past form of “endeavor” — attempt by employing effort
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
escapingverbUS /ɪˈskeɪpɪŋ/
-ing form of “escape” — run away from confinement
From this reading The convicts were evidently keeping as keen a watch as the besieged to guard against the possibility of any of them escaping.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading The convicts were evidently keeping as keen a watch as the besieged to guard against the possibility of any of them escaping.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Aside from this incident the besieged were not disturbed.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading The convicts were evidently keeping as keen a watch as the besieged to guard against the possibility of any of them escaping.
plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
temporary military shelter
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
a single distinct event
From this reading Aside from this incident the besieged were not disturbed.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading The convicts were evidently keeping as keen a watch as the besieged to guard against the possibility of any of them escaping.
conformity or harmony
From this reading The convicts were evidently keeping as keen a watch as the besieged to guard against the possibility of any of them escaping.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Only once during the night were the watchers disturbed.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Aside from this incident the besieged were not disturbed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The convicts were evidently keeping as keen a watch as the besieged to guard against the possibility of any of them escaping.
on one occasion
From this reading Only once during the night were the watchers disturbed.
and nothing more
From this reading Only once during the night were the watchers disturbed.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
PARLEYnounUS /ˈpɑːrli/
a negotiation between enemies
From this reading THE PARLEY.
a future prospect or potential
From this reading The convicts were evidently keeping as keen a watch as the besieged to guard against the possibility of any of them escaping.
with speed
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
revolvernounUS /rɪˈvɑːlvər/
a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
spottedadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːtɪd/
having spots or patches (small areas of contrasting color or texture)
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
carry out
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PARLEY.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Aside from this incident the besieged were not disturbed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
unseenadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːn/
not seen or perceived
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
look attentively
From this reading The convicts were evidently keeping as keen a watch as the besieged to guard against the possibility of any of them escaping.
watchersnounUS /ˈwɑːtʃərz/
plural of “watcher” — a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind)
From this reading Only once during the night were the watchers disturbed.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Only once during the night were the watchers disturbed.
which person or people
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
wormnounUS /wɜːrm/
any of numerous relatively small elongated soft-bodied animals especially of the phyla Annelida and Chaetognatha and Nematoda and Nemertea and Platyhelminthes; also many insect larvae
From this reading Two convicts endeavored to worm their way up to the hut unseen but were quickly spotted by the captain who emptied his revolver at them without any other effect than to cause them to take to their heels.
