used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A GREY, sunless morning on the Firth of Tay.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading With them were two civilians, both in rough shooting-jackets and breeches, one about forty-five, the other a few years his junior.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Across a wide, sandy waste stretching away to the misty sea at Budden, four men were walking.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Can you see them, Fellowes?" asked the general of the long-legged captain, scanning the distant horizon with those sharp grey eyes which had carried him safely through many campaigns.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Across a wide, sandy waste stretching away to the misty sea at Budden, four men were walking.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Across a wide, sandy waste stretching away to the misty sea at Budden, four men were walking.
the two together, not just one
From this reading With them were two civilians, both in rough shooting-jackets and breeches, one about forty-five, the other a few years his junior.
breechesnounUS /ˈbriːtʃɪz/
(used in the plural) trousers ending above the knee
From this reading With them were two civilians, both in rough shooting-jackets and breeches, one about forty-five, the other a few years his junior.
brusqueadjectiveUS /brʌsk/
marked by rude or peremptory shortness
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
Budden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Across a wide, sandy waste stretching away to the misty sea at Budden, four men were walking.
campaignsnounUS /kæmˈpeɪnz/
plural of “campaign” — a race between candidates for elective office
From this reading "Can you see them, Fellowes?" asked the general of the long-legged captain, scanning the distant horizon with those sharp grey eyes which had carried him safely through many campaigns.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "Can you see them, Fellowes?" asked the general of the long-legged captain, scanning the distant horizon with those sharp grey eyes which had carried him safely through many campaigns.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading "Can you see them, Fellowes?" asked the general of the long-legged captain, scanning the distant horizon with those sharp grey eyes which had carried him safely through many campaigns.
civiliansnounUS /səˈvɪljənz/
plural of “civilian” — a nonmilitary citizen
From this reading With them were two civilians, both in rough shooting-jackets and breeches, one about forty-five, the other a few years his junior.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading "Can you see them, Fellowes?" asked the general of the long-legged captain, scanning the distant horizon with those sharp grey eyes which had carried him safely through many campaigns.
opinion or judgment
From this reading "Can you see them, Fellowes?" asked the general of the long-legged captain, scanning the distant horizon with those sharp grey eyes which had carried him safely through many campaigns.
Fellowes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Can you see them, Fellowes?" asked the general of the long-legged captain, scanning the distant horizon with those sharp grey eyes which had carried him safely through many campaigns.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading With them were two civilians, both in rough shooting-jackets and breeches, one about forty-five, the other a few years his junior.
FirthnounUS /fɜːrθ/
English linguist who contributed to linguistic semantics and to prosodic phonology and who was noted for his insistence on studying both sound and meaning in context (1890-1960)
From this reading A GREY, sunless morning on the Firth of Tay.
forty-fivenounUS /ˈfɔːrtifaɪv/
a .45-caliber pistol
From this reading With them were two civilians, both in rough shooting-jackets and breeches, one about forty-five, the other a few years his junior.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Across a wide, sandy waste stretching away to the misty sea at Budden, four men were walking.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
Gordon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading A GREY, sunless morning on the Firth of Tay.
grey-hairedadjective
showing characteristics of age, especially having grey or white hair
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Can you see them, Fellowes?" asked the general of the long-legged captain, scanning the distant horizon with those sharp grey eyes which had carried him safely through many campaigns.
HighlandersnounUS /ˈhaɪlændərz/
plural of “highlander” — a soldier in a Scottish regiment from the Highlands
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Can you see them, Fellowes?" asked the general of the long-legged captain, scanning the distant horizon with those sharp grey eyes which had carried him safely through many campaigns.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading "Can you see them, Fellowes?" asked the general of the long-legged captain, scanning the distant horizon with those sharp grey eyes which had carried him safely through many campaigns.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
juniornounUS /ˈdʒuːnjər/
term of address for a disrespectful and annoying male
From this reading With them were two civilians, both in rough shooting-jackets and breeches, one about forty-five, the other a few years his junior.
long-leggedadjective
having long legs
From this reading "Can you see them, Fellowes?" asked the general of the long-legged captain, scanning the distant horizon with those sharp grey eyes which had carried him safely through many campaigns.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
the force of workers available
From this reading Across a wide, sandy waste stretching away to the misty sea at Budden, four men were walking.
mistyadjectiveUS /ˈmɪsti/
filled or abounding with fog or mist
From this reading Across a wide, sandy waste stretching away to the misty sea at Budden, four men were walking.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading A GREY, sunless morning on the Firth of Tay.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A GREY, sunless morning on the Firth of Tay.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A GREY, sunless morning on the Firth of Tay.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
ribbonsnounUS /ˈrɪbənz/
plural of “ribbon” — any long object resembling a thin line
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading With them were two civilians, both in rough shooting-jackets and breeches, one about forty-five, the other a few years his junior.
with safety; in a safe manner
From this reading "Can you see them, Fellowes?" asked the general of the long-legged captain, scanning the distant horizon with those sharp grey eyes which had carried him safely through many campaigns.
sandyadjectiveUS /ˈsændi/
of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown
From this reading Across a wide, sandy waste stretching away to the misty sea at Budden, four men were walking.
scanningnounUS /ˈskænɪŋ/
the process of translating photographs into a digital form that can be recognized by a computer
From this reading "Can you see them, Fellowes?" asked the general of the long-legged captain, scanning the distant horizon with those sharp grey eyes which had carried him safely through many campaigns.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Across a wide, sandy waste stretching away to the misty sea at Budden, four men were walking.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "Can you see them, Fellowes?" asked the general of the long-legged captain, scanning the distant horizon with those sharp grey eyes which had carried him safely through many campaigns.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
shooting-jackets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With them were two civilians, both in rough shooting-jackets and breeches, one about forty-five, the other a few years his junior.
staffnounUS /stæf/
personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
stretchingnounUS /ˈstretʃɪŋ/
act of expanding by lengthening or widening
From this reading Across a wide, sandy waste stretching away to the misty sea at Budden, four men were walking.
sunlessadjective
filled or abounding with clouds
From this reading A GREY, sunless morning on the Firth of Tay.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
tartannounUS /ˈtɑːrtən/
a cloth having a crisscross design
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
TaynounUS /teɪ/
a branch of the Tai languages
From this reading A GREY, sunless morning on the Firth of Tay.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A GREY, sunless morning on the Firth of Tay.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading With them were two civilians, both in rough shooting-jackets and breeches, one about forty-five, the other a few years his junior.
thin-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading "Can you see them, Fellowes?" asked the general of the long-legged captain, scanning the distant horizon with those sharp grey eyes which had carried him safely through many campaigns.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading "Can you see them, Fellowes?" asked the general of the long-legged captain, scanning the distant horizon with those sharp grey eyes which had carried him safely through many campaigns.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Across a wide, sandy waste stretching away to the misty sea at Budden, four men were walking.
tunicnounUS /ˈtuːnɪk/
an enveloping or covering membrane or layer of body tissue
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
uniformadjectiveUS /ˈjuːnəfɔːrm/
always the same; showing a single form or character in all occurrences
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading Across a wide, sandy waste stretching away to the misty sea at Budden, four men were walking.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading Across a wide, sandy waste stretching away to the misty sea at Budden, four men were walking.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Across a wide, sandy waste stretching away to the misty sea at Budden, four men were walking.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "Can you see them, Fellowes?" asked the general of the long-legged captain, scanning the distant horizon with those sharp grey eyes which had carried him safely through many campaigns.
which person or people
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Across a wide, sandy waste stretching away to the misty sea at Budden, four men were walking.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading Two wore uniform--one an alert, grey-haired general, sharp and brusque in manner, with many war ribbons across his tunic; the other a tall, thin-faced staff captain, who wore the tartan of the Gordon Highlanders.
a late time of life
From this reading With them were two civilians, both in rough shooting-jackets and breeches, one about forty-five, the other a few years his junior.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Can you see them, Fellowes?" asked the general of the long-legged captain, scanning the distant horizon with those sharp grey eyes which had carried him safely through many campaigns.
