used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He came erect, not understanding them for a moment, and then he ran out to the patio, leaning over the parapet.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading In the valleys, fire swirled in flashes through the dark, and against the glare of burning trees he saw bobbing silhouettes of planes.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He came erect, not understanding them for a moment, and then he ran out to the patio, leaning over the parapet.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading Men were far too small to be seen at this distance, but as firing stabbed down from the planes other weapons answered from the ground.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Men were far too small to be seen at this distance, but as firing stabbed down from the planes other weapons answered from the ground.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Men were far too small to be seen at this distance, but as firing stabbed down from the planes other weapons answered from the ground.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Men were far too small to be seen at this distance, but as firing stabbed down from the planes other weapons answered from the ground.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Until, hours later, orange flowers burst in the valley below.
bobbingverbUS /ˈbɑːbɪŋ/
inflected form of “bob” — move up and down repeatedly
From this reading In the valleys, fire swirled in flashes through the dark, and against the glare of burning trees he saw bobbing silhouettes of planes.
the act of burning something
From this reading In the valleys, fire swirled in flashes through the dark, and against the glare of burning trees he saw bobbing silhouettes of planes.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading Until, hours later, orange flowers burst in the valley below.
burstingverbUS /ˈbɜːrstɪŋ/
-ing form of “burst” — come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading On the faint wind, he heard the distant sound of earth and houses bursting into vapor.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Men were far too small to be seen at this distance, but as firing stabbed down from the planes other weapons answered from the ground.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He came erect, not understanding them for a moment, and then he ran out to the patio, leaning over the parapet.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading In the valleys, fire swirled in flashes through the dark, and against the glare of burning trees he saw bobbing silhouettes of planes.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Men were far too small to be seen at this distance, but as firing stabbed down from the planes other weapons answered from the ground.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading On the faint wind, he heard the distant sound of earth and houses bursting into vapor.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Men were far too small to be seen at this distance, but as firing stabbed down from the planes other weapons answered from the ground.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading On the faint wind, he heard the distant sound of earth and houses bursting into vapor.
erectverbUS /ɪˈrekt/
construct, build, or erect
From this reading He came erect, not understanding them for a moment, and then he ran out to the patio, leaning over the parapet.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading On the faint wind, he heard the distant sound of earth and houses bursting into vapor.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Men were far too small to be seen at this distance, but as firing stabbed down from the planes other weapons answered from the ground.
start firing a weapon
From this reading In the valleys, fire swirled in flashes through the dark, and against the glare of burning trees he saw bobbing silhouettes of planes.
firingnounUS /ˈfaɪrɪŋ/
the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy
From this reading Men were far too small to be seen at this distance, but as firing stabbed down from the planes other weapons answered from the ground.
flashesnounUS /ˈflæʃɪz/
plural of “flash” — a sudden intense burst of radiant energy
From this reading In the valleys, fire swirled in flashes through the dark, and against the glare of burning trees he saw bobbing silhouettes of planes.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading Until, hours later, orange flowers burst in the valley below.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He came erect, not understanding them for a moment, and then he ran out to the patio, leaning over the parapet.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Men were far too small to be seen at this distance, but as firing stabbed down from the planes other weapons answered from the ground.
glarenounUS /ɡler/
a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted
From this reading In the valleys, fire swirled in flashes through the dark, and against the glare of burning trees he saw bobbing silhouettes of planes.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Men were far too small to be seen at this distance, but as firing stabbed down from the planes other weapons answered from the ground.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He came erect, not understanding them for a moment, and then he ran out to the patio, leaning over the parapet.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading On the faint wind, he heard the distant sound of earth and houses bursting into vapor.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Until, hours later, orange flowers burst in the valley below.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading On the faint wind, he heard the distant sound of earth and houses bursting into vapor.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Until, hours later, orange flowers burst in the valley below.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading On the faint wind, he heard the distant sound of earth and houses bursting into vapor.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Until, hours later, orange flowers burst in the valley below.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading He came erect, not understanding them for a moment, and then he ran out to the patio, leaning over the parapet.
the force of workers available
From this reading Men were far too small to be seen at this distance, but as firing stabbed down from the planes other weapons answered from the ground.
a particular point in time
From this reading He came erect, not understanding them for a moment, and then he ran out to the patio, leaning over the parapet.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He came erect, not understanding them for a moment, and then he ran out to the patio, leaning over the parapet.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the faint wind, he heard the distant sound of earth and houses bursting into vapor.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the faint wind, he heard the distant sound of earth and houses bursting into vapor.
orangenounUS /ˈɔːrəndʒ/
round yellow to orange fruit of any of several citrus trees
From this reading Until, hours later, orange flowers burst in the valley below.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Men were far too small to be seen at this distance, but as firing stabbed down from the planes other weapons answered from the ground.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He came erect, not understanding them for a moment, and then he ran out to the patio, leaning over the parapet.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He came erect, not understanding them for a moment, and then he ran out to the patio, leaning over the parapet.
parapetnounUS /ˈperəpet/
a low wall along the edge of a roof or balcony
From this reading He came erect, not understanding them for a moment, and then he ran out to the patio, leaning over the parapet.
pationounUS /ˈpætioʊ/
usually paved outdoor area adjoining a residence
From this reading He came erect, not understanding them for a moment, and then he ran out to the patio, leaning over the parapet.
planesnounUS /pleɪnz/
plural of “plane” — an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading In the valleys, fire swirled in flashes through the dark, and against the glare of burning trees he saw bobbing silhouettes of planes.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading He came erect, not understanding them for a moment, and then he ran out to the patio, leaning over the parapet.
cut with a saw
From this reading In the valleys, fire swirled in flashes through the dark, and against the glare of burning trees he saw bobbing silhouettes of planes.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Men were far too small to be seen at this distance, but as firing stabbed down from the planes other weapons answered from the ground.
silhouettesnounUS /ˌsɪləˈwets/
plural of “silhouette” — an outline of a solid object (as cast by its shadow)
From this reading In the valleys, fire swirled in flashes through the dark, and against the glare of burning trees he saw bobbing silhouettes of planes.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Men were far too small to be seen at this distance, but as firing stabbed down from the planes other weapons answered from the ground.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading On the faint wind, he heard the distant sound of earth and houses bursting into vapor.
stabbedverbUS /stæbd/
inflected form of “stab” — use a knife on
From this reading Men were far too small to be seen at this distance, but as firing stabbed down from the planes other weapons answered from the ground.
swirledverbUS /swɜːrld/
past form of “swirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading In the valleys, fire swirled in flashes through the dark, and against the glare of burning trees he saw bobbing silhouettes of planes.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Until, hours later, orange flowers burst in the valley below.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He came erect, not understanding them for a moment, and then he ran out to the patio, leaning over the parapet.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He came erect, not understanding them for a moment, and then he ran out to the patio, leaning over the parapet.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Men were far too small to be seen at this distance, but as firing stabbed down from the planes other weapons answered from the ground.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading In the valleys, fire swirled in flashes through the dark, and against the glare of burning trees he saw bobbing silhouettes of planes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He came erect, not understanding them for a moment, and then he ran out to the patio, leaning over the parapet.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Men were far too small to be seen at this distance, but as firing stabbed down from the planes other weapons answered from the ground.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading In the valleys, fire swirled in flashes through the dark, and against the glare of burning trees he saw bobbing silhouettes of planes.
the cognitive condition of someone who understands
From this reading He came erect, not understanding them for a moment, and then he ran out to the patio, leaning over the parapet.
UntilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Until, hours later, orange flowers burst in the valley below.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading Until, hours later, orange flowers burst in the valley below.
valleysnounUS /ˈvæliz/
plural of “valley” — a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading In the valleys, fire swirled in flashes through the dark, and against the glare of burning trees he saw bobbing silhouettes of planes.
vapornounUS /ˈveɪpər/
a visible suspension in the air of particles of some substance
From this reading On the faint wind, he heard the distant sound of earth and houses bursting into vapor.
weaponsnounUS /ˈwepənz/
plural of “weapon” — any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading Men were far too small to be seen at this distance, but as firing stabbed down from the planes other weapons answered from the ground.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Men were far too small to be seen at this distance, but as firing stabbed down from the planes other weapons answered from the ground.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading On the faint wind, he heard the distant sound of earth and houses bursting into vapor.
