used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE CONFESSION OF A PHOTOGRAPH "There's a ravine off to the right where the machines may be hidden," the clerk said, when the racing automobiles stopped at the foot of the hills.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The horsemen came on swiftly, and would have passed only that the detectives closed in about them, three in front and three in the rear.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The machines were driven into the ravine referred to, and the secret service men and the boys secreted themselves in a clump of undergrowth close to the roadside.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "We want to see what sort of people they are who ride at break-neck speed in the darkness."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE CONFESSION OF A PHOTOGRAPH "There's a ravine off to the right where the machines may be hidden," the clerk said, when the racing automobiles stopped at the foot of the hills.
automobilesnounUS /ˈɔːtəmoʊbiːlz/
plural of “automobile” — a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading THE CONFESSION OF A PHOTOGRAPH "There's a ravine off to the right where the machines may be hidden," the clerk said, when the racing automobiles stopped at the foot of the hills.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading THE CONFESSION OF A PHOTOGRAPH "There's a ravine off to the right where the machines may be hidden," the clerk said, when the racing automobiles stopped at the foot of the hills.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The machines were driven into the ravine referred to, and the secret service men and the boys secreted themselves in a clump of undergrowth close to the roadside.
break-neck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We want to see what sort of people they are who ride at break-neck speed in the darkness."
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The horsemen came on swiftly, and would have passed only that the detectives closed in about them, three in front and three in the rear.
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading THE CONFESSION OF A PHOTOGRAPH "There's a ravine off to the right where the machines may be hidden," the clerk said, when the racing automobiles stopped at the foot of the hills.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The machines were driven into the ravine referred to, and the secret service men and the boys secreted themselves in a clump of undergrowth close to the roadside.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading The horsemen came on swiftly, and would have passed only that the detectives closed in about them, three in front and three in the rear.
clumpnounUS /klʌmp/
a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading The machines were driven into the ravine referred to, and the secret service men and the boys secreted themselves in a clump of undergrowth close to the roadside.
past form of “command” — be in command of
From this reading "Show the way, then, quick," hastily commanded the leader.
an admission of misdeeds or faults
From this reading THE CONFESSION OF A PHOTOGRAPH "There's a ravine off to the right where the machines may be hidden," the clerk said, when the racing automobiles stopped at the foot of the hills.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading "We want to see what sort of people they are who ride at break-neck speed in the darkness."
detectivesnounUS /dɪˈtektɪvz/
plural of “detective” — a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading The horsemen came on swiftly, and would have passed only that the detectives closed in about them, three in front and three in the rear.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading The machines were driven into the ravine referred to, and the secret service men and the boys secreted themselves in a clump of undergrowth close to the roadside.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading THE CONFESSION OF A PHOTOGRAPH "There's a ravine off to the right where the machines may be hidden," the clerk said, when the racing automobiles stopped at the foot of the hills.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading The horsemen came on swiftly, and would have passed only that the detectives closed in about them, three in front and three in the rear.
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading "Show the way, then, quick," hastily commanded the leader.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The horsemen came on swiftly, and would have passed only that the detectives closed in about them, three in front and three in the rear.
not accessible to view
From this reading THE CONFESSION OF A PHOTOGRAPH "There's a ravine off to the right where the machines may be hidden," the clerk said, when the racing automobiles stopped at the foot of the hills.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading THE CONFESSION OF A PHOTOGRAPH "There's a ravine off to the right where the machines may be hidden," the clerk said, when the racing automobiles stopped at the foot of the hills.
horsemennounUS /ˈhɔːrsmən/
plural of “horseman” — a man skilled in equitation
From this reading The horsemen came on swiftly, and would have passed only that the detectives closed in about them, three in front and three in the rear.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "We want to see what sort of people they are who ride at break-neck speed in the darkness."
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The machines were driven into the ravine referred to, and the secret service men and the boys secreted themselves in a clump of undergrowth close to the roadside.
a person who rules or guides or inspires others
From this reading "Show the way, then, quick," hastily commanded the leader.
machinesnounUS /məˈʃiːnz/
plural of “machine” — any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading THE CONFESSION OF A PHOTOGRAPH "There's a ravine off to the right where the machines may be hidden," the clerk said, when the racing automobiles stopped at the foot of the hills.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading THE CONFESSION OF A PHOTOGRAPH "There's a ravine off to the right where the machines may be hidden," the clerk said, when the racing automobiles stopped at the foot of the hills.
the force of workers available
From this reading The machines were driven into the ravine referred to, and the secret service men and the boys secreted themselves in a clump of undergrowth close to the roadside.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE CONFESSION OF A PHOTOGRAPH "There's a ravine off to the right where the machines may be hidden," the clerk said, when the racing automobiles stopped at the foot of the hills.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading THE CONFESSION OF A PHOTOGRAPH "There's a ravine off to the right where the machines may be hidden," the clerk said, when the racing automobiles stopped at the foot of the hills.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The horsemen came on swiftly, and would have passed only that the detectives closed in about them, three in front and three in the rear.
and nothing more
From this reading The horsemen came on swiftly, and would have passed only that the detectives closed in about them, three in front and three in the rear.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The horsemen came on swiftly, and would have passed only that the detectives closed in about them, three in front and three in the rear.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading "We want to see what sort of people they are who ride at break-neck speed in the darkness."
PHOTOGRAPHverbUS /ˈfoʊtəɡræf/
record on photographic film
From this reading THE CONFESSION OF A PHOTOGRAPH "There's a ravine off to the right where the machines may be hidden," the clerk said, when the racing automobiles stopped at the foot of the hills.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading "Show the way, then, quick," hastily commanded the leader.
racingnounUS /ˈreɪsɪŋ/
the sport of engaging in contests of speed
From this reading THE CONFESSION OF A PHOTOGRAPH "There's a ravine off to the right where the machines may be hidden," the clerk said, when the racing automobiles stopped at the foot of the hills.
ravinenounUS /rəˈviːn/
a deep narrow steep-sided valley (especially one formed by running water)
From this reading THE CONFESSION OF A PHOTOGRAPH "There's a ravine off to the right where the machines may be hidden," the clerk said, when the racing automobiles stopped at the foot of the hills.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading The horsemen came on swiftly, and would have passed only that the detectives closed in about them, three in front and three in the rear.
referredverbUS /rəˈfɜːrd/
inflected form of “refer” — make reference to
From this reading The machines were driven into the ravine referred to, and the secret service men and the boys secreted themselves in a clump of undergrowth close to the roadside.
sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading "We want to see what sort of people they are who ride at break-neck speed in the darkness."
precisely, exactly
From this reading THE CONFESSION OF A PHOTOGRAPH "There's a ravine off to the right where the machines may be hidden," the clerk said, when the racing automobiles stopped at the foot of the hills.
roadsidenounUS /ˈroʊdsaɪd/
edge of a way or road or path
From this reading The machines were driven into the ravine referred to, and the secret service men and the boys secreted themselves in a clump of undergrowth close to the roadside.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading THE CONFESSION OF A PHOTOGRAPH "There's a ravine off to the right where the machines may be hidden," the clerk said, when the racing automobiles stopped at the foot of the hills.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading The machines were driven into the ravine referred to, and the secret service men and the boys secreted themselves in a clump of undergrowth close to the roadside.
secretedverbUS /səˈkriːtɪd/
past form of “secrete” — generate and separate from cells or bodily fluids
From this reading The machines were driven into the ravine referred to, and the secret service men and the boys secreted themselves in a clump of undergrowth close to the roadside.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "We want to see what sort of people they are who ride at break-neck speed in the darkness."
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading The machines were driven into the ravine referred to, and the secret service men and the boys secreted themselves in a clump of undergrowth close to the roadside.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading "Show the way, then, quick," hastily commanded the leader.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading "We want to see what sort of people they are who ride at break-neck speed in the darkness."
move hurridly
From this reading "We want to see what sort of people they are who ride at break-neck speed in the darkness."
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading THE CONFESSION OF A PHOTOGRAPH "There's a ravine off to the right where the machines may be hidden," the clerk said, when the racing automobiles stopped at the foot of the hills.
in a swift manner
From this reading The horsemen came on swiftly, and would have passed only that the detectives closed in about them, three in front and three in the rear.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The horsemen came on swiftly, and would have passed only that the detectives closed in about them, three in front and three in the rear.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CONFESSION OF A PHOTOGRAPH "There's a ravine off to the right where the machines may be hidden," the clerk said, when the racing automobiles stopped at the foot of the hills.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The horsemen came on swiftly, and would have passed only that the detectives closed in about them, three in front and three in the rear.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The machines were driven into the ravine referred to, and the secret service men and the boys secreted themselves in a clump of undergrowth close to the roadside.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading "Show the way, then, quick," hastily commanded the leader.
There's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CONFESSION OF A PHOTOGRAPH "There's a ravine off to the right where the machines may be hidden," the clerk said, when the racing automobiles stopped at the foot of the hills.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "We want to see what sort of people they are who ride at break-neck speed in the darkness."
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The horsemen came on swiftly, and would have passed only that the detectives closed in about them, three in front and three in the rear.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE CONFESSION OF A PHOTOGRAPH "There's a ravine off to the right where the machines may be hidden," the clerk said, when the racing automobiles stopped at the foot of the hills.
undergrowthnounUS /ˈʌndərɡroʊθ/
the brush (small trees and bushes and ferns etc.) growing beneath taller trees in a wood or forest
From this reading The machines were driven into the ravine referred to, and the secret service men and the boys secreted themselves in a clump of undergrowth close to the roadside.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading "We want to see what sort of people they are who ride at break-neck speed in the darkness."
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "Show the way, then, quick," hastily commanded the leader.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We want to see what sort of people they are who ride at break-neck speed in the darkness."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The machines were driven into the ravine referred to, and the secret service men and the boys secreted themselves in a clump of undergrowth close to the roadside.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "We want to see what sort of people they are who ride at break-neck speed in the darkness."
at the time that
From this reading THE CONFESSION OF A PHOTOGRAPH "There's a ravine off to the right where the machines may be hidden," the clerk said, when the racing automobiles stopped at the foot of the hills.
in or at the place that
From this reading THE CONFESSION OF A PHOTOGRAPH "There's a ravine off to the right where the machines may be hidden," the clerk said, when the racing automobiles stopped at the foot of the hills.
which person or people
From this reading "We want to see what sort of people they are who ride at break-neck speed in the darkness."
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The horsemen came on swiftly, and would have passed only that the detectives closed in about them, three in front and three in the rear.
