used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading He was positive that he saw a line of horsemen moving along the edge of the trees.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then he heard a horse's shoe strike a stone, and the low voices of men.
at or in or to any place
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last Juarez's vigilance was rewarded.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
rid of obstructions
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
crouchedverbUS /kraʊtʃt/
past form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading He crouched, looking over the edge of the gully in the direction of the mountain with its heavily-wooded slope.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading He crouched, looking over the edge of the gully in the direction of the mountain with its heavily-wooded slope.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading He crouched, looking over the edge of the gully in the direction of the mountain with its heavily-wooded slope.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
gullynounUS /ˈɡʌli/
deep ditch cut by running water (especially after a prolonged downpour)
From this reading He crouched, looking over the edge of the gully in the direction of the mountain with its heavily-wooded slope.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He crouched, looking over the edge of the gully in the direction of the mountain with its heavily-wooded slope.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Then he heard a horse's shoe strike a stone, and the low voices of men.
heavily-wooded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He crouched, looking over the edge of the gully in the direction of the mountain with its heavily-wooded slope.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
horse'snounUS /ˈhɔːrsəz/
possessive form of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading Then he heard a horse's shoe strike a stone, and the low voices of men.
horsemennounUS /ˈhɔːrsmən/
plural of “horseman” — a man skilled in equitation
From this reading He was positive that he saw a line of horsemen moving along the edge of the trees.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He crouched, looking over the edge of the gully in the direction of the mountain with its heavily-wooded slope.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He crouched, looking over the edge of the gully in the direction of the mountain with its heavily-wooded slope.
Juarez's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last Juarez's vigilance was rewarded.
immediately past
From this reading At last Juarez's vigilance was rewarded.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading He was positive that he saw a line of horsemen moving along the edge of the trees.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading He crouched, looking over the edge of the gully in the direction of the mountain with its heavily-wooded slope.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Then he heard a horse's shoe strike a stone, and the low voices of men.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
the force of workers available
From this reading Then he heard a horse's shoe strike a stone, and the low voices of men.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading He crouched, looking over the edge of the gully in the direction of the mountain with its heavily-wooded slope.
in motion
From this reading He was positive that he saw a line of horsemen moving along the edge of the trees.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
outlawsnounUS /ˈaʊtlɔːz/
plural of “outlaw” — someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He crouched, looking over the edge of the gully in the direction of the mountain with its heavily-wooded slope.
positiveadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːzətɪv/
characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.
From this reading He was positive that he saw a line of horsemen moving along the edge of the trees.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
get something; come into possession of
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
rewardedverbUS /rɪˈwɔːrdɪd/
past form of “reward” — bestow honor or rewards upon
From this reading At last Juarez's vigilance was rewarded.
cut with a saw
From this reading He was positive that he saw a line of horsemen moving along the edge of the trees.
shoenounUS /ʃuː/
footwear shaped to fit the foot (below the ankle) with a flexible upper of leather or plastic and a sole and heel of heavier material
From this reading Then he heard a horse's shoe strike a stone, and the low voices of men.
an elevated geological formation
From this reading He crouched, looking over the edge of the gully in the direction of the mountain with its heavily-wooded slope.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Then he heard a horse's shoe strike a stone, and the low voices of men.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading Then he heard a horse's shoe strike a stone, and the low voices of men.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he heard a horse's shoe strike a stone, and the low voices of men.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading He was positive that he saw a line of horsemen moving along the edge of the trees.
vigilancenounUS /ˈvɪdʒələns/
the process of paying close and continuous attention
From this reading At last Juarez's vigilance was rewarded.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Then he heard a horse's shoe strike a stone, and the low voices of men.
a message informing of danger
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At last Juarez's vigilance was rewarded.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He crouched, looking over the edge of the gully in the direction of the mountain with its heavily-wooded slope.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK The sound of the work on the hill carried far through the clear, quiet air, so that the outlaws, if they were anywhere near, would have had warning that preparations were being made to receive them.
