used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “‘AT that moment, the last I ever expected to see on earth, the black girl uttered a sudden cry.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading At the same time four men dashed across the gully and made for him.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The report of a gun was heard, as a bullet passed between me and Brady, flattening itself against the rock where I had been leaning just before.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The report of a gun was heard, as a bullet passed between me and Brady, flattening itself against the rock where I had been leaning just before.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The report of a gun was heard, as a bullet passed between me and Brady, flattening itself against the rock where I had been leaning just before.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “‘AT that moment, the last I ever expected to see on earth, the black girl uttered a sudden cry.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading Their guns were the old-fashioned tower muskets; they were bad shots at best—so the girl and he disappeared in the thick wood, unhurt as far as I could see.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The report of a gun was heard, as a bullet passed between me and Brady, flattening itself against the rock where I had been leaning just before.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The report of a gun was heard, as a bullet passed between me and Brady, flattening itself against the rock where I had been leaning just before.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading Their guns were the old-fashioned tower muskets; they were bad shots at best—so the girl and he disappeared in the thick wood, unhurt as far as I could see.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The report of a gun was heard, as a bullet passed between me and Brady, flattening itself against the rock where I had been leaning just before.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading “‘AT that moment, the last I ever expected to see on earth, the black girl uttered a sudden cry.
BradynounUS /ˈbreɪdi/
United States pioneer photographer famous for his portraits; was the official Union photographer for the American Civil War (1823-1896)
From this reading The report of a gun was heard, as a bullet passed between me and Brady, flattening itself against the rock where I had been leaning just before.
bulletnounUS /ˈbʊlət/
a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading The report of a gun was heard, as a bullet passed between me and Brady, flattening itself against the rock where I had been leaning just before.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Their guns were the old-fashioned tower muskets; they were bad shots at best—so the girl and he disappeared in the thick wood, unhurt as far as I could see.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “‘AT that moment, the last I ever expected to see on earth, the black girl uttered a sudden cry.
having gaps or spaces
From this reading At the same time four men dashed across the gully and made for him.
defencenounUS /dɪˈfens/
(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
devilishadjectiveUS /ˈdevlɪʃ/
showing the cunning or ingenuity or wickedness typical of a devil
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading Their guns were the old-fashioned tower muskets; they were bad shots at best—so the girl and he disappeared in the thick wood, unhurt as far as I could see.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading “‘AT that moment, the last I ever expected to see on earth, the black girl uttered a sudden cry.
at any time
From this reading “‘AT that moment, the last I ever expected to see on earth, the black girl uttered a sudden cry.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading “‘AT that moment, the last I ever expected to see on earth, the black girl uttered a sudden cry.
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Their guns were the old-fashioned tower muskets; they were bad shots at best—so the girl and he disappeared in the thick wood, unhurt as far as I could see.
firingnounUS /ˈfaɪrɪŋ/
the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
flatteningverbUS /ˈflætənɪŋ/
-ing form of “flatten” — make flat or flatter
From this reading The report of a gun was heard, as a bullet passed between me and Brady, flattening itself against the rock where I had been leaning just before.
inflected form of “flee” — run away quickly
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At the same time four men dashed across the gully and made for him.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading At the same time four men dashed across the gully and made for him.
a young female
From this reading “‘AT that moment, the last I ever expected to see on earth, the black girl uttered a sudden cry.
gullynounUS /ˈɡʌli/
deep ditch cut by running water (especially after a prolonged downpour)
From this reading At the same time four men dashed across the gully and made for him.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading The report of a gun was heard, as a bullet passed between me and Brady, flattening itself against the rock where I had been leaning just before.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading Their guns were the old-fashioned tower muskets; they were bad shots at best—so the girl and he disappeared in the thick wood, unhurt as far as I could see.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The report of a gun was heard, as a bullet passed between me and Brady, flattening itself against the rock where I had been leaning just before.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The report of a gun was heard, as a bullet passed between me and Brady, flattening itself against the rock where I had been leaning just before.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At the same time four men dashed across the gully and made for him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “‘AT that moment, the last I ever expected to see on earth, the black girl uttered a sudden cry.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
informernounUS /ˌɪnˈfɔːrmər/
one who reveals confidential information in return for money
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The report of a gun was heard, as a bullet passed between me and Brady, flattening itself against the rock where I had been leaning just before.
and nothing more
From this reading The report of a gun was heard, as a bullet passed between me and Brady, flattening itself against the rock where I had been leaning just before.
immediately past
From this reading “‘AT that moment, the last I ever expected to see on earth, the black girl uttered a sudden cry.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading The report of a gun was heard, as a bullet passed between me and Brady, flattening itself against the rock where I had been leaning just before.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading At the same time four men dashed across the gully and made for him.
malignitynoun
wishing evil to others
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The report of a gun was heard, as a bullet passed between me and Brady, flattening itself against the rock where I had been leaning just before.
the force of workers available
From this reading At the same time four men dashed across the gully and made for him.
a particular point in time
From this reading “‘AT that moment, the last I ever expected to see on earth, the black girl uttered a sudden cry.
muskets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their guns were the old-fashioned tower muskets; they were bad shots at best—so the girl and he disappeared in the thick wood, unhurt as far as I could see.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The report of a gun was heard, as a bullet passed between me and Brady, flattening itself against the rock where I had been leaning just before.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading Their guns were the old-fashioned tower muskets; they were bad shots at best—so the girl and he disappeared in the thick wood, unhurt as far as I could see.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “‘AT that moment, the last I ever expected to see on earth, the black girl uttered a sudden cry.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The report of a gun was heard, as a bullet passed between me and Brady, flattening itself against the rock where I had been leaning just before.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
to give an account or representation of in words
From this reading The report of a gun was heard, as a bullet passed between me and Brady, flattening itself against the rock where I had been leaning just before.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading The report of a gun was heard, as a bullet passed between me and Brady, flattening itself against the rock where I had been leaning just before.
Identical; not different.
From this reading At the same time four men dashed across the gully and made for him.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “‘AT that moment, the last I ever expected to see on earth, the black girl uttered a sudden cry.
shotsnounUS /ʃɑːts/
plural of “shot” — the act of firing a projectile
From this reading Their guns were the old-fashioned tower muskets; they were bad shots at best—so the girl and he disappeared in the thick wood, unhurt as far as I could see.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Their guns were the old-fashioned tower muskets; they were bad shots at best—so the girl and he disappeared in the thick wood, unhurt as far as I could see.
an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
move hurridly
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading “‘AT that moment, the last I ever expected to see on earth, the black girl uttered a sudden cry.
express a supposition
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “‘AT that moment, the last I ever expected to see on earth, the black girl uttered a sudden cry.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “‘AT that moment, the last I ever expected to see on earth, the black girl uttered a sudden cry.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their guns were the old-fashioned tower muskets; they were bad shots at best—so the girl and he disappeared in the thick wood, unhurt as far as I could see.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading Their guns were the old-fashioned tower muskets; they were bad shots at best—so the girl and he disappeared in the thick wood, unhurt as far as I could see.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading At the same time four men dashed across the gully and made for him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “‘AT that moment, the last I ever expected to see on earth, the black girl uttered a sudden cry.
in the direction of
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading Their guns were the old-fashioned tower muskets; they were bad shots at best—so the girl and he disappeared in the thick wood, unhurt as far as I could see.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
unhurtadjectiveUS /ənˈhɜːrt/
not injured or harmed
From this reading Their guns were the old-fashioned tower muskets; they were bad shots at best—so the girl and he disappeared in the thick wood, unhurt as far as I could see.
communicated in words
From this reading “‘AT that moment, the last I ever expected to see on earth, the black girl uttered a sudden cry.
nonexistent
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The report of a gun was heard, as a bullet passed between me and Brady, flattening itself against the rock where I had been leaning just before.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
in or at the place that
From this reading The report of a gun was heard, as a bullet passed between me and Brady, flattening itself against the rock where I had been leaning just before.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He looked at me with devilish malignity for a moment, but I suppose, wanting the charge in his gun for his own defence, turned and fled with extraordinary speed towards the forest, the police—for such they were—with a soldier and the informer, firing at him as he went.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading Their guns were the old-fashioned tower muskets; they were bad shots at best—so the girl and he disappeared in the thick wood, unhurt as far as I could see.
