used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
acquiringnounUS /əˈkwaɪrɪŋ/
the act of acquiring something
From this reading They had been hard at work at signal practice, semaphoring, and acquiring speed in Morse signaling with flags, which makes wireless unnecessary when there are enough signalers, covering enough ground.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They had been hard at work at signal practice, semaphoring, and acquiring speed in Morse signaling with flags, which makes wireless unnecessary when there are enough signalers, covering enough ground.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They had been hard at work at signal practice, semaphoring, and acquiring speed in Morse signaling with flags, which makes wireless unnecessary when there are enough signalers, covering enough ground.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Beyond its site stretched level fields, sloping gradually upward from them toward a wooded mountain.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading The smoke came from the mountain, and in the growing blackness over the mountain a circular ring proclaimed the spreading fire.
a youthful male person
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The smoke came from the mountain, and in the growing blackness over the mountain a circular ring proclaimed the spreading fire.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
circularadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrkjələr/
having the shape or form of a circle
From this reading The smoke came from the mountain, and in the growing blackness over the mountain a circular ring proclaimed the spreading fire.
coveringnounUS /ˈkʌvərɪŋ/
a natural object that covers or envelops
From this reading They had been hard at work at signal practice, semaphoring, and acquiring speed in Morse signaling with flags, which makes wireless unnecessary when there are enough signalers, covering enough ground.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading They had been hard at work at signal practice, semaphoring, and acquiring speed in Morse signaling with flags, which makes wireless unnecessary when there are enough signalers, covering enough ground.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading Beyond its site stretched level fields, sloping gradually upward from them toward a wooded mountain.
start firing a weapon
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
flagsnounUS /flæɡz/
plural of “flag” — emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design
From this reading They had been hard at work at signal practice, semaphoring, and acquiring speed in Morse signaling with flags, which makes wireless unnecessary when there are enough signalers, covering enough ground.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Beyond its site stretched level fields, sloping gradually upward from them toward a wooded mountain.
in a gradual manner
From this reading Beyond its site stretched level fields, sloping gradually upward from them toward a wooded mountain.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading They had been hard at work at signal practice, semaphoring, and acquiring speed in Morse signaling with flags, which makes wireless unnecessary when there are enough signalers, covering enough ground.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading The smoke came from the mountain, and in the growing blackness over the mountain a circular ring proclaimed the spreading fire.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading They had been hard at work at signal practice, semaphoring, and acquiring speed in Morse signaling with flags, which makes wireless unnecessary when there are enough signalers, covering enough ground.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Beyond its site stretched level fields, sloping gradually upward from them toward a wooded mountain.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading Beyond its site stretched level fields, sloping gradually upward from them toward a wooded mountain.
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading They had been hard at work at signal practice, semaphoring, and acquiring speed in Morse signaling with flags, which makes wireless unnecessary when there are enough signalers, covering enough ground.
MorsenounUS /mɔːrs/
a telegraph code in which letters and numbers are represented by strings of dots and dashes (short and long signals)
From this reading They had been hard at work at signal practice, semaphoring, and acquiring speed in Morse signaling with flags, which makes wireless unnecessary when there are enough signalers, covering enough ground.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading Beyond its site stretched level fields, sloping gradually upward from them toward a wooded mountain.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading The Scout camp was near the edge of the woods.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
pallverbUS /pɑːl/
become less interesting or attractive
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
a customary way of operation or behavior
From this reading They had been hard at work at signal practice, semaphoring, and acquiring speed in Morse signaling with flags, which makes wireless unnecessary when there are enough signalers, covering enough ground.
proclaimedadjectiveUS /proʊˈkleɪmd/
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading The smoke came from the mountain, and in the growing blackness over the mountain a circular ring proclaimed the spreading fire.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading The smoke came from the mountain, and in the growing blackness over the mountain a circular ring proclaimed the spreading fire.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
ScoutnounUS /skaʊt/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading The Scout camp was near the edge of the woods.
ScoutsnounUS /skaʊts/
plural of “scout” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
semaphoring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had been hard at work at signal practice, semaphoring, and acquiring speed in Morse signaling with flags, which makes wireless unnecessary when there are enough signalers, covering enough ground.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading They had been hard at work at signal practice, semaphoring, and acquiring speed in Morse signaling with flags, which makes wireless unnecessary when there are enough signalers, covering enough ground.
signalers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had been hard at work at signal practice, semaphoring, and acquiring speed in Morse signaling with flags, which makes wireless unnecessary when there are enough signalers, covering enough ground.
signalingnounUS /ˈsɪɡnəlɪŋ/
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading They had been hard at work at signal practice, semaphoring, and acquiring speed in Morse signaling with flags, which makes wireless unnecessary when there are enough signalers, covering enough ground.
sitenounUS /saɪt/
the piece of land on which something is located (or is to be located)
From this reading Beyond its site stretched level fields, sloping gradually upward from them toward a wooded mountain.
slopingadjectiveUS /ˈsloʊpɪŋ/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading Beyond its site stretched level fields, sloping gradually upward from them toward a wooded mountain.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
move hurridly
From this reading They had been hard at work at signal practice, semaphoring, and acquiring speed in Morse signaling with flags, which makes wireless unnecessary when there are enough signalers, covering enough ground.
spendingnounUS /ˈspendɪŋ/
the act of spending or disbursing money
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
spreadingnounUS /ˈspredɪŋ/
process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
From this reading The smoke came from the mountain, and in the growing blackness over the mountain a circular ring proclaimed the spreading fire.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading Beyond its site stretched level fields, sloping gradually upward from them toward a wooded mountain.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Beyond its site stretched level fields, sloping gradually upward from them toward a wooded mountain.
in or at that place or location
From this reading They had been hard at work at signal practice, semaphoring, and acquiring speed in Morse signaling with flags, which makes wireless unnecessary when there are enough signalers, covering enough ground.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had been hard at work at signal practice, semaphoring, and acquiring speed in Morse signaling with flags, which makes wireless unnecessary when there are enough signalers, covering enough ground.
Thirty-ninthadjective
the ordinal number of thirty-nine in counting order
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
threateningadjectiveUS /ˈθretənɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Beyond its site stretched level fields, sloping gradually upward from them toward a wooded mountain.
TroopnounUS /truːp/
a group of soldiers
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
displeasing to the senses
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
unnecessaryadjectiveUS /ənˈnesəseri/
not necessary
From this reading They had been hard at work at signal practice, semaphoring, and acquiring speed in Morse signaling with flags, which makes wireless unnecessary when there are enough signalers, covering enough ground.
directed up
From this reading Beyond its site stretched level fields, sloping gradually upward from them toward a wooded mountain.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Scout camp was near the edge of the woods.
at the time that
From this reading They had been hard at work at signal practice, semaphoring, and acquiring speed in Morse signaling with flags, which makes wireless unnecessary when there are enough signalers, covering enough ground.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
wirelessnounUS /ˈwaɪrlɪs/
medium for communication
From this reading They had been hard at work at signal practice, semaphoring, and acquiring speed in Morse signaling with flags, which makes wireless unnecessary when there are enough signalers, covering enough ground.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They had been hard at work at signal practice, semaphoring, and acquiring speed in Morse signaling with flags, which makes wireless unnecessary when there are enough signalers, covering enough ground.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE FIRE A pall of smoke, dark, ugly, threatening, hung over a wood in which the Thirty-ninth Troop of the Boy Scouts had been spending a Saturday afternoon in camp.
woodedadjectiveUS /ˈwʊdɪd/
covered with growing trees and bushes etc
From this reading Beyond its site stretched level fields, sloping gradually upward from them toward a wooded mountain.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading The Scout camp was near the edge of the woods.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading They had been hard at work at signal practice, semaphoring, and acquiring speed in Morse signaling with flags, which makes wireless unnecessary when there are enough signalers, covering enough ground.
