used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Johnny had scarcely reached the cluster of tents that loomed large in the darkness, when he was startled by a sudden wild burst of activity.
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading Johnny had scarcely reached the cluster of tents that loomed large in the darkness, when he was startled by a sudden wild burst of activity.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading What was it, a fire or an approaching cyclone?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Men and boys rushed silently here and there; lanterns and searchlights flashed from place to place.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading What was it, a fire or an approaching cyclone?
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Men and boys rushed silently here and there; lanterns and searchlights flashed from place to place.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading Johnny had scarcely reached the cluster of tents that loomed large in the darkness, when he was startled by a sudden wild burst of activity.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Johnny had scarcely reached the cluster of tents that loomed large in the darkness, when he was startled by a sudden wild burst of activity.
clusterverbUS /ˈklʌstər/
come together as in a cluster or flock
From this reading Johnny had scarcely reached the cluster of tents that loomed large in the darkness, when he was startled by a sudden wild burst of activity.
cyclonenounUS /sɪˈkloʊn/
(meteorology) rapid inward circulation of air masses about a low pressure center; circling counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern
From this reading What was it, a fire or an approaching cyclone?
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Johnny had scarcely reached the cluster of tents that loomed large in the darkness, when he was startled by a sudden wild burst of activity.
start firing a weapon
From this reading What was it, a fire or an approaching cyclone?
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading Men and boys rushed silently here and there; lanterns and searchlights flashed from place to place.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a second he stood there paralyzed.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Men and boys rushed silently here and there; lanterns and searchlights flashed from place to place.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Johnny had scarcely reached the cluster of tents that loomed large in the darkness, when he was startled by a sudden wild burst of activity.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Johnny had scarcely reached the cluster of tents that loomed large in the darkness, when he was startled by a sudden wild burst of activity.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Men and boys rushed silently here and there; lanterns and searchlights flashed from place to place.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Johnny had scarcely reached the cluster of tents that loomed large in the darkness, when he was startled by a sudden wild burst of activity.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading What was it, a fire or an approaching cyclone?
“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading Johnny had scarcely reached the cluster of tents that loomed large in the darkness, when he was startled by a sudden wild burst of activity.
lanternsnounUS /ˈlæntərnz/
plural of “lantern” — light in a transparent protective case
From this reading Men and boys rushed silently here and there; lanterns and searchlights flashed from place to place.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Johnny had scarcely reached the cluster of tents that loomed large in the darkness, when he was startled by a sudden wild burst of activity.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading Then he laughed.
loomedverbUS /luːmd/
past form of “loom” — come into view indistinctly, often threateningly
From this reading Johnny had scarcely reached the cluster of tents that loomed large in the darkness, when he was startled by a sudden wild burst of activity.
the force of workers available
From this reading Men and boys rushed silently here and there; lanterns and searchlights flashed from place to place.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Johnny had scarcely reached the cluster of tents that loomed large in the darkness, when he was startled by a sudden wild burst of activity.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading What was it, a fire or an approaching cyclone?
paralyzedadjectiveUS /ˈperəlaɪzd/
affected with paralysis
From this reading For a second he stood there paralyzed.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Men and boys rushed silently here and there; lanterns and searchlights flashed from place to place.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Johnny had scarcely reached the cluster of tents that loomed large in the darkness, when he was startled by a sudden wild burst of activity.
done under pressure
From this reading Men and boys rushed silently here and there; lanterns and searchlights flashed from place to place.
only a very short time before
From this reading Johnny had scarcely reached the cluster of tents that loomed large in the darkness, when he was startled by a sudden wild burst of activity.
searchlightsnounUS /ˈsɜːrtʃlaɪts/
plural of “searchlight” — a light source with reflectors that projects a beam of light in a particular direction
From this reading Men and boys rushed silently here and there; lanterns and searchlights flashed from place to place.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading For a second he stood there paralyzed.
without speaking
From this reading Men and boys rushed silently here and there; lanterns and searchlights flashed from place to place.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading Johnny had scarcely reached the cluster of tents that loomed large in the darkness, when he was startled by a sudden wild burst of activity.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading For a second he stood there paralyzed.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Johnny had scarcely reached the cluster of tents that loomed large in the darkness, when he was startled by a sudden wild burst of activity.
tentsnounUS /tents/
plural of “tent” — a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading Johnny had scarcely reached the cluster of tents that loomed large in the darkness, when he was startled by a sudden wild burst of activity.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Johnny had scarcely reached the cluster of tents that loomed large in the darkness, when he was startled by a sudden wild burst of activity.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Johnny had scarcely reached the cluster of tents that loomed large in the darkness, when he was startled by a sudden wild burst of activity.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he laughed.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Men and boys rushed silently here and there; lanterns and searchlights flashed from place to place.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Men and boys rushed silently here and there; lanterns and searchlights flashed from place to place.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Johnny had scarcely reached the cluster of tents that loomed large in the darkness, when he was startled by a sudden wild burst of activity.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What was it, a fire or an approaching cyclone?
at the time that
From this reading Johnny had scarcely reached the cluster of tents that loomed large in the darkness, when he was startled by a sudden wild burst of activity.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading Johnny had scarcely reached the cluster of tents that loomed large in the darkness, when he was startled by a sudden wild burst of activity.
