used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A RECRUIT JOINS THE RANGERS Harshaw did not, during the first forty-eight hours after leaving Bear Cat, make contact with either the Indians or the militia.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading He moved warily, throwing out scouts as his party advanced.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A RECRUIT JOINS THE RANGERS Harshaw did not, during the first forty-eight hours after leaving Bear Cat, make contact with either the Indians or the militia.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading At night he posted sentries carefully to guard against a surprise attack.
ambushverbUS /ˈæmbʊʃ/
wait in hiding to attack
From this reading It would be easy to fall into an ambush, but he had no intention of letting the rangers become the victims of carelessness.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It would be easy to fall into an ambush, but he had no intention of letting the rangers become the victims of carelessness.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He moved warily, throwing out scouts as his party advanced.
assaultnounUS /əˈsɔːlt/
close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
From this reading It was not the habit of the tribes to assault in the darkness, but he was taking no chances.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At night he posted sentries carefully to guard against a surprise attack.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading At night he posted sentries carefully to guard against a surprise attack.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It would be easy to fall into an ambush, but he had no intention of letting the rangers become the victims of carelessness.
have
From this reading A RECRUIT JOINS THE RANGERS Harshaw did not, during the first forty-eight hours after leaving Bear Cat, make contact with either the Indians or the militia.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading It would be easy to fall into an ambush, but he had no intention of letting the rangers become the victims of carelessness.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was not the habit of the tribes to assault in the darkness, but he was taking no chances.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading At night he posted sentries carefully to guard against a surprise attack.
carelessnessnounUS /ˈkerləsnəs/
the quality of not being careful or taking pains
From this reading It would be easy to fall into an ambush, but he had no intention of letting the rangers become the victims of carelessness.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading A RECRUIT JOINS THE RANGERS Harshaw did not, during the first forty-eight hours after leaving Bear Cat, make contact with either the Indians or the militia.
plural of “chance” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading It was not the habit of the tribes to assault in the darkness, but he was taking no chances.
contactnounUS /ˈkɑːntækt/
close interaction
From this reading A RECRUIT JOINS THE RANGERS Harshaw did not, during the first forty-eight hours after leaving Bear Cat, make contact with either the Indians or the militia.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It was not the habit of the tribes to assault in the darkness, but he was taking no chances.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading A RECRUIT JOINS THE RANGERS Harshaw did not, during the first forty-eight hours after leaving Bear Cat, make contact with either the Indians or the militia.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading A RECRUIT JOINS THE RANGERS Harshaw did not, during the first forty-eight hours after leaving Bear Cat, make contact with either the Indians or the militia.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading It would be easy to fall into an ambush, but he had no intention of letting the rangers become the victims of carelessness.
one or the other of two
From this reading A RECRUIT JOINS THE RANGERS Harshaw did not, during the first forty-eight hours after leaving Bear Cat, make contact with either the Indians or the militia.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading It would be easy to fall into an ambush, but he had no intention of letting the rangers become the victims of carelessness.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading A RECRUIT JOINS THE RANGERS Harshaw did not, during the first forty-eight hours after leaving Bear Cat, make contact with either the Indians or the militia.
forty-eightadjective
being eight more than forty
From this reading A RECRUIT JOINS THE RANGERS Harshaw did not, during the first forty-eight hours after leaving Bear Cat, make contact with either the Indians or the militia.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading At night he posted sentries carefully to guard against a surprise attack.
an established custom
From this reading It was not the habit of the tribes to assault in the darkness, but he was taking no chances.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It would be easy to fall into an ambush, but he had no intention of letting the rangers become the victims of carelessness.
Harshaw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A RECRUIT JOINS THE RANGERS Harshaw did not, during the first forty-eight hours after leaving Bear Cat, make contact with either the Indians or the militia.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He moved warily, throwing out scouts as his party advanced.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He moved warily, throwing out scouts as his party advanced.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading A RECRUIT JOINS THE RANGERS Harshaw did not, during the first forty-eight hours after leaving Bear Cat, make contact with either the Indians or the militia.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was not the habit of the tribes to assault in the darkness, but he was taking no chances.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading A RECRUIT JOINS THE RANGERS Harshaw did not, during the first forty-eight hours after leaving Bear Cat, make contact with either the Indians or the militia.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading It would be easy to fall into an ambush, but he had no intention of letting the rangers become the victims of carelessness.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It would be easy to fall into an ambush, but he had no intention of letting the rangers become the victims of carelessness.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not the habit of the tribes to assault in the darkness, but he was taking no chances.
JOINSnounUS /dʒɔɪnz/
plural of “join” — the shape or manner in which things come together and a connection is made
From this reading A RECRUIT JOINS THE RANGERS Harshaw did not, during the first forty-eight hours after leaving Bear Cat, make contact with either the Indians or the militia.
the act of departing
From this reading A RECRUIT JOINS THE RANGERS Harshaw did not, during the first forty-eight hours after leaving Bear Cat, make contact with either the Indians or the militia.
property that is leased or rented out or let
From this reading It would be easy to fall into an ambush, but he had no intention of letting the rangers become the victims of carelessness.
engage in
From this reading A RECRUIT JOINS THE RANGERS Harshaw did not, during the first forty-eight hours after leaving Bear Cat, make contact with either the Indians or the militia.
militianounUS /məˈlɪʃə/
civilians trained as soldiers but not part of the regular army
From this reading A RECRUIT JOINS THE RANGERS Harshaw did not, during the first forty-eight hours after leaving Bear Cat, make contact with either the Indians or the militia.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading He moved warily, throwing out scouts as his party advanced.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading At night he posted sentries carefully to guard against a surprise attack.
not any; not one
From this reading It was not the habit of the tribes to assault in the darkness, but he was taking no chances.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A RECRUIT JOINS THE RANGERS Harshaw did not, during the first forty-eight hours after leaving Bear Cat, make contact with either the Indians or the militia.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was not the habit of the tribes to assault in the darkness, but he was taking no chances.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A RECRUIT JOINS THE RANGERS Harshaw did not, during the first forty-eight hours after leaving Bear Cat, make contact with either the Indians or the militia.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He moved warily, throwing out scouts as his party advanced.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading He moved warily, throwing out scouts as his party advanced.
postedadjectiveUS /ˈpoʊstɪd/
publicly displayed
From this reading At night he posted sentries carefully to guard against a surprise attack.
RANGERSnounUS /ˈreɪndʒərz/
plural of “ranger” — a member of the Texas state highway patrol; formerly a mounted lawman who maintained order on the frontier
From this reading A RECRUIT JOINS THE RANGERS Harshaw did not, during the first forty-eight hours after leaving Bear Cat, make contact with either the Indians or the militia.
RECRUITverbUS /rəˈkruːt/
register formally as a participant or member
From this reading A RECRUIT JOINS THE RANGERS Harshaw did not, during the first forty-eight hours after leaving Bear Cat, make contact with either the Indians or the militia.
scoutsnounUS /skaʊts/
plural of “scout” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading He moved warily, throwing out scouts as his party advanced.
sentriesnounUS /ˈsentriz/
plural of “sentry” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading At night he posted sentries carefully to guard against a surprise attack.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading At night he posted sentries carefully to guard against a surprise attack.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading It was not the habit of the tribes to assault in the darkness, but he was taking no chances.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A RECRUIT JOINS THE RANGERS Harshaw did not, during the first forty-eight hours after leaving Bear Cat, make contact with either the Indians or the militia.
-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading He moved warily, throwing out scouts as his party advanced.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At night he posted sentries carefully to guard against a surprise attack.
tribesnounUS /traɪbz/
plural of “tribe” — a social division of (usually preliterate) people
From this reading It was not the habit of the tribes to assault in the darkness, but he was taking no chances.
victimsnounUS /ˈvɪktəmz/
plural of “victim” — an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance
From this reading It would be easy to fall into an ambush, but he had no intention of letting the rangers become the victims of carelessness.
warilyadverbUS /ˈwerəli/
in a wary manner
From this reading He moved warily, throwing out scouts as his party advanced.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not the habit of the tribes to assault in the darkness, but he was taking no chances.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A RECRUIT JOINS THE RANGERS Harshaw did not, during the first forty-eight hours after leaving Bear Cat, make contact with either the Indians or the militia.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would be easy to fall into an ambush, but he had no intention of letting the rangers become the victims of carelessness.
