adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Never before had such a day dawned upon Kaskaskia.
AmericannounUS /əˈmerəkən/
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
anonadverbUS /ˌæˈnɔːn/
at another time
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading What they awaited at the hands of the Long Knives they knew not,--captivity, torture, death perhaps.
awaitedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪtɪd/
expected hopefully
From this reading What they awaited at the hands of the Long Knives they knew not,--captivity, torture, death perhaps.
backwoodsmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
beatverbUS /biːt/
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading With July fierceness the sun beat down upon the village, but man nor woman nor child stirred from the darkened houses.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Never before had such a day dawned upon Kaskaskia.
behalfnounUS /bɪˈhæf/
as the agent of or on someone's part (usually expressed as “on behalf of” rather than “in behalf of”)
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
bestirring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
bidsnounUS /bɪdz/
plural of “bid” — an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading “The Colonel bids you come to the fort,” he said, and was gone.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading With July fierceness the sun beat down upon the village, but man nor woman nor child stirred from the darkened houses.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
captivitynounUS /kæpˈtɪvəti/
the state of being imprisoned
From this reading What they awaited at the hands of the Long Knives they knew not,--captivity, torture, death perhaps.
childnounUS /tʃaɪld/
a young person of either sex
From this reading With July fierceness the sun beat down upon the village, but man nor woman nor child stirred from the darkened houses.
ColonelnounUS /ˈkɜːrnəl/
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading “The Colonel bids you come to the fort,” he said, and was gone.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “The Colonel bids you come to the fort,” he said, and was gone.
darkenedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənd/
(of fabrics and paper) grown dark in color over time
From this reading With July fierceness the sun beat down upon the village, but man nor woman nor child stirred from the darkened houses.
dawnedverbUS /dɔːnd/
past form of “dawn” — become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions
From this reading Never before had such a day dawned upon Kaskaskia.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Never before had such a day dawned upon Kaskaskia.
deathnounUS /deθ/
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading What they awaited at the hands of the Long Knives they knew not,--captivity, torture, death perhaps.
desertedadjectiveUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading With July fierceness the sun beat down upon the village, but man nor woman nor child stirred from the darkened houses.
DuffnounUS /dʌf/
a stiff flour pudding steamed or boiled usually and containing e.g. currants and raisins and citron
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
fierceness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With July fierceness the sun beat down upon the village, but man nor woman nor child stirred from the darkened houses.
fortnounUS /fɔːrt/
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading “The Colonel bids you come to the fort,” he said, and was gone.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading With July fierceness the sun beat down upon the village, but man nor woman nor child stirred from the darkened houses.
goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/
destroyed or killed
From this reading “The Colonel bids you come to the fort,” he said, and was gone.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Never before had such a day dawned upon Kaskaskia.
handsnounUS /hændz/
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading What they awaited at the hands of the Long Knives they knew not,--captivity, torture, death perhaps.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “The Colonel bids you come to the fort,” he said, and was gone.
headedadjectiveUS /ˈhedəd/
having a heading or course in a certain direction
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
housesnounUS /ˈhaʊsəz/
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading With July fierceness the sun beat down upon the village, but man nor woman nor child stirred from the darkened houses.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
JulynounUS /ˌdʒuːˈlaɪ/
the month following June and preceding August
From this reading With July fierceness the sun beat down upon the village, but man nor woman nor child stirred from the darkened houses.
Kaskaskia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Never before had such a day dawned upon Kaskaskia.
knewverbUS /nuː/
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading What they awaited at the hands of the Long Knives they knew not,--captivity, torture, death perhaps.
KnivesnounUS /naɪvz/
plural of “knife” — edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading What they awaited at the hands of the Long Knives they knew not,--captivity, torture, death perhaps.
knockingnounUS /ˈnɑːkɪŋ/
the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
LongadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading What they awaited at the hands of the Long Knives they knew not,--captivity, torture, death perhaps.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading With July fierceness the sun beat down upon the village, but man nor woman nor child stirred from the darkened houses.
NeveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Never before had such a day dawned upon Kaskaskia.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading With July fierceness the sun beat down upon the village, but man nor woman nor child stirred from the darkened houses.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading What they awaited at the hands of the Long Knives they knew not,--captivity, torture, death perhaps.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading What they awaited at the hands of the Long Knives they knew not,--captivity, torture, death perhaps.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/
by chance
From this reading What they awaited at the hands of the Long Knives they knew not,--captivity, torture, death perhaps.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “The Colonel bids you come to the fort,” he said, and was gone.
squadnounUS /skwɑːd/
a smallest army unit
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
stalkedadjectiveUS /stɔːkt/
having or growing on or from a peduncle or stalk
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
stirredadjectiveUS /stɜːrd/
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading With July fierceness the sun beat down upon the village, but man nor woman nor child stirred from the darkened houses.
streetsnounUS /striːts/
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Never before had such a day dawned upon Kaskaskia.
sunnounUS /sʌn/
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading With July fierceness the sun beat down upon the village, but man nor woman nor child stirred from the darkened houses.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With July fierceness the sun beat down upon the village, but man nor woman nor child stirred from the darkened houses.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading What they awaited at the hands of the Long Knives they knew not,--captivity, torture, death perhaps.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
ThroughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “The Colonel bids you come to the fort,” he said, and was gone.
tortureverbUS /ˈtɔːrtʃər/
torment emotionally or mentally
From this reading What they awaited at the hands of the Long Knives they knew not,--captivity, torture, death perhaps.
townnounUS /taʊn/
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
tradersnounUS /ˈtreɪdərz/
plural of “trader” — someone who purchases and maintains an inventory of goods to be sold
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Never before had such a day dawned upon Kaskaskia.
villagenounUS /ˈvɪlədʒ/
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading With July fierceness the sun beat down upon the village, but man nor woman nor child stirred from the darkened houses.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “The Colonel bids you come to the fort,” he said, and was gone.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What they awaited at the hands of the Long Knives they knew not,--captivity, torture, death perhaps.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Through the deserted streets stalked a squad of backwoodsmen headed by John Duff and two American traders found in the town, who were bestirring themselves in our behalf, knocking now at this door and anon at that.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading With July fierceness the sun beat down upon the village, but man nor woman nor child stirred from the darkened houses.
womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading With July fierceness the sun beat down upon the village, but man nor woman nor child stirred from the darkened houses.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “The Colonel bids you come to the fort,” he said, and was gone.
