used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They trotted off into the ghostlike stillness of the plain which for a space threw back their hoof beats, and then closed round them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was hail and farewell in desert meetings.
plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading With unbound packs and unharnessed animals, they stood, a dismayed group, gathered round a center of disturbance.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading They trotted off into the ghostlike stillness of the plain which for a space threw back their hoof beats, and then closed round them.
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading The departure of the westward band was not so prompt.
beatsnounUS /biːts/
a United States youth subculture of the 1950s; rejected possessions or regular work or traditional dress; for communal living and psychedelic drugs and anarchism; favored modern forms of jazz (e.g., bebop)
From this reading They trotted off into the ghostlike stillness of the plain which for a space threw back their hoof beats, and then closed round them.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading With unbound packs and unharnessed animals, they stood, a dismayed group, gathered round a center of disturbance.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading They trotted off into the ghostlike stillness of the plain which for a space threw back their hoof beats, and then closed round them.
the first light of day
From this reading In the even dawn light the strangers left.
the act of departing
From this reading The departure of the westward band was not so prompt.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading It was hail and farewell in desert meetings.
dismayedadjectiveUS /dɪˈsmeɪd/
struck with fear, dread, or consternation
From this reading With unbound packs and unharnessed animals, they stood, a dismayed group, gathered round a center of disturbance.
disturbancenounUS /dɪˈstɜːrbəns/
activity that is a malfunction, intrusion, or interruption
From this reading With unbound packs and unharnessed animals, they stood, a dismayed group, gathered round a center of disturbance.
divisible by two
From this reading In the even dawn light the strangers left.
an acknowledgment or expression of goodwill at parting
From this reading It was hail and farewell in desert meetings.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They trotted off into the ghostlike stillness of the plain which for a space threw back their hoof beats, and then closed round them.
brought together in one place
From this reading With unbound packs and unharnessed animals, they stood, a dismayed group, gathered round a center of disturbance.
ghostlikeadjectiveUS /ˈɡoʊstlaɪk/
resembling or characteristic of a phantom
From this reading They trotted off into the ghostlike stillness of the plain which for a space threw back their hoof beats, and then closed round them.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading With unbound packs and unharnessed animals, they stood, a dismayed group, gathered round a center of disturbance.
hailverbUS /heɪl/
praise vociferously
From this reading It was hail and farewell in desert meetings.
hoofnounUS /huːf/
the foot of an ungulate mammal
From this reading They trotted off into the ghostlike stillness of the plain which for a space threw back their hoof beats, and then closed round them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the even dawn light the strangers left.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They trotted off into the ghostlike stillness of the plain which for a space threw back their hoof beats, and then closed round them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was hail and farewell in desert meetings.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading In the even dawn light the strangers left.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading In the even dawn light the strangers left.
meetingsnounUS /ˈmiːtɪŋz/
plural of “meeting” — a formally arranged gathering
From this reading It was hail and farewell in desert meetings.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The departure of the westward band was not so prompt.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They trotted off into the ghostlike stillness of the plain which for a space threw back their hoof beats, and then closed round them.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading They trotted off into the ghostlike stillness of the plain which for a space threw back their hoof beats, and then closed round them.
packsnounUS /pæks/
plural of “pack” — a large indefinite number
From this reading With unbound packs and unharnessed animals, they stood, a dismayed group, gathered round a center of disturbance.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading They trotted off into the ghostlike stillness of the plain which for a space threw back their hoof beats, and then closed round them.
promptverbUS /prɑːmpt/
give an incentive for action
From this reading The departure of the westward band was not so prompt.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading They trotted off into the ghostlike stillness of the plain which for a space threw back their hoof beats, and then closed round them.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The departure of the westward band was not so prompt.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading They trotted off into the ghostlike stillness of the plain which for a space threw back their hoof beats, and then closed round them.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading They trotted off into the ghostlike stillness of the plain which for a space threw back their hoof beats, and then closed round them.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading With unbound packs and unharnessed animals, they stood, a dismayed group, gathered round a center of disturbance.
plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading In the even dawn light the strangers left.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the even dawn light the strangers left.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They trotted off into the ghostlike stillness of the plain which for a space threw back their hoof beats, and then closed round them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They trotted off into the ghostlike stillness of the plain which for a space threw back their hoof beats, and then closed round them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading They trotted off into the ghostlike stillness of the plain which for a space threw back their hoof beats, and then closed round them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They trotted off into the ghostlike stillness of the plain which for a space threw back their hoof beats, and then closed round them.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading They trotted off into the ghostlike stillness of the plain which for a space threw back their hoof beats, and then closed round them.
trottedverbUS /ˈtrɑːtɪd/
inflected form of “trot” — run at a moderately swift pace
From this reading They trotted off into the ghostlike stillness of the plain which for a space threw back their hoof beats, and then closed round them.
unboundadjectiveUS /ʌnˈbaʊnd/
Released from physical or magical bonds; free and unrestricted.
From this reading With unbound packs and unharnessed animals, they stood, a dismayed group, gathered round a center of disturbance.
unharnessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With unbound packs and unharnessed animals, they stood, a dismayed group, gathered round a center of disturbance.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was hail and farewell in desert meetings.
westwardadverbUS /ˈwestwərd/
toward the west
From this reading The departure of the westward band was not so prompt.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They trotted off into the ghostlike stillness of the plain which for a space threw back their hoof beats, and then closed round them.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With unbound packs and unharnessed animals, they stood, a dismayed group, gathered round a center of disturbance.
