used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading And as soon as it was ascertained that a body of horseman--hostile it seemed they must be--were riding against them, the first thought was how best a fight could be conducted.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading This was part and parcel of life in the west, especially when on an expedition of this character.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And as soon as it was ascertained that a body of horseman--hostile it seemed they must be--were riding against them, the first thought was how best a fight could be conducted.
ascertainedadjectiveUS /ˌæsərˈteɪnd/
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading And as soon as it was ascertained that a body of horseman--hostile it seemed they must be--were riding against them, the first thought was how best a fight could be conducted.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In consequence there were several natural places of refuge and hiding, behind which a fight could be conducted.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading In consequence there were several natural places of refuge and hiding, behind which a fight could be conducted.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading And as soon as it was ascertained that a body of horseman--hostile it seemed they must be--were riding against them, the first thought was how best a fight could be conducted.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading And as soon as it was ascertained that a body of horseman--hostile it seemed they must be--were riding against them, the first thought was how best a fight could be conducted.
an occurrence of something
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading This was part and parcel of life in the west, especially when on an expedition of this character.
past form of “command” — be in command of
From this reading "Get in the horses!" commanded Rolling Stone.
conductedverbUS /kənˈdʌktəd/
past form of “conduct” — direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading In consequence there were several natural places of refuge and hiding, behind which a fight could be conducted.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading In consequence there were several natural places of refuge and hiding, behind which a fight could be conducted.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading In consequence there were several natural places of refuge and hiding, behind which a fight could be conducted.
defensenounUS /dɪˈfens/
(military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
emergencynounUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi/
a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading This was part and parcel of life in the west, especially when on an expedition of this character.
a military campaign designed to achieve a specific objective in a foreign country
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading In consequence there were several natural places of refuge and hiding, behind which a fight could be conducted.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading And as soon as it was ascertained that a body of horseman--hostile it seemed they must be--were riding against them, the first thought was how best a fight could be conducted.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
foresightnounUS /ˈfɔːrsaɪt/
providence by virtue of planning prudently for the future
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Get in the horses!" commanded Rolling Stone.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
hidingnounUS /ˈhaɪdɪŋ/
the activity of keeping something secret
From this reading In consequence there were several natural places of refuge and hiding, behind which a fight could be conducted.
horsemannounUS /ˈhɔːrsmən/
a man skilled in equitation
From this reading And as soon as it was ascertained that a body of horseman--hostile it seemed they must be--were riding against them, the first thought was how best a fight could be conducted.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading "Get in the horses!" commanded Rolling Stone.
hostileadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːstəl/
characterized by enmity or ill will
From this reading And as soon as it was ascertained that a body of horseman--hostile it seemed they must be--were riding against them, the first thought was how best a fight could be conducted.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And as soon as it was ascertained that a body of horseman--hostile it seemed they must be--were riding against them, the first thought was how best a fight could be conducted.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And as soon as it was ascertained that a body of horseman--hostile it seemed they must be--were riding against them, the first thought was how best a fight could be conducted.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
leadersnounUS /ˈliːdərz/
the body of people who lead a group
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
go away from a place
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading This was part and parcel of life in the west, especially when on an expedition of this character.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading And as soon as it was ascertained that a body of horseman--hostile it seemed they must be--were riding against them, the first thought was how best a fight could be conducted.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading In consequence there were several natural places of refuge and hiding, behind which a fight could be conducted.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading This was part and parcel of life in the west, especially when on an expedition of this character.
parcelnounUS /ˈpɑːrsəl/
a wrapped container
From this reading This was part and parcel of life in the west, especially when on an expedition of this character.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading This was part and parcel of life in the west, especially when on an expedition of this character.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading In consequence there were several natural places of refuge and hiding, behind which a fight could be conducted.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
a safe place
From this reading In consequence there were several natural places of refuge and hiding, behind which a fight could be conducted.
rescueverbUS /ˈreskjuː/
free from harm or evil
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements
From this reading And as soon as it was ascertained that a body of horseman--hostile it seemed they must be--were riding against them, the first thought was how best a fight could be conducted.
uttered with a trill
From this reading "Get in the horses!" commanded Rolling Stone.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
selectedadjectiveUS /səˈlektɪd/
chosen in preference to another
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading In consequence there were several natural places of refuge and hiding, behind which a fight could be conducted.
an ability that has been acquired by training
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
in the near future
From this reading And as soon as it was ascertained that a body of horseman--hostile it seemed they must be--were riding against them, the first thought was how best a fight could be conducted.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading "Get in the horses!" commanded Rolling Stone.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And as soon as it was ascertained that a body of horseman--hostile it seemed they must be--were riding against them, the first thought was how best a fight could be conducted.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
in or at that place or location
From this reading In consequence there were several natural places of refuge and hiding, behind which a fight could be conducted.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And as soon as it was ascertained that a body of horseman--hostile it seemed they must be--were riding against them, the first thought was how best a fight could be conducted.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was part and parcel of life in the west, especially when on an expedition of this character.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading And as soon as it was ascertained that a body of horseman--hostile it seemed they must be--were riding against them, the first thought was how best a fight could be conducted.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
TROOPERSnounUS /ˈtruːpərz/
plural of “trooper” — a soldier in a motorized army unit
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was part and parcel of life in the west, especially when on an expedition of this character.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In consequence there were several natural places of refuge and hiding, behind which a fight could be conducted.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading This was part and parcel of life in the west, especially when on an expedition of this character.
at the time that
From this reading This was part and parcel of life in the west, especially when on an expedition of this character.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
in the company of; together with
From this reading WITH THE TROOPERS With a skill and foresight which never seemed to leave them, the leaders of the rescue expedition had selected the place for the dinner stop with a view to its possible defense in case of emergency.
