used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It came after a wearing night and a still more harrowing day.
united by being of the same opinion
From this reading The volley had been the signal agreed upon in case the young sentry caught sight of the missing ones.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The next instant his rifle was at his shoulder and he began shooting into the air as fast as he could.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading As the rapid staccato volley of sound rattled forth all became excitement in the arroyo.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The next instant his rifle was at his shoulder and he began shooting into the air as fast as he could.
arroyonounUS /ərˈɔɪoʊ/
a stream or brook
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The next instant his rifle was at his shoulder and he began shooting into the air as fast as he could.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The next instant his rifle was at his shoulder and he began shooting into the air as fast as he could.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading As the rapid staccato volley of sound rattled forth all became excitement in the arroyo.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The next instant his rifle was at his shoulder and he began shooting into the air as fast as he could.
buttenounUS /bjuːt/
a hill that rises abruptly from the surrounding region; has a flat top and sloping sides
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It came after a wearing night and a still more harrowing day.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
an occurrence of something
From this reading The volley had been the signal agreed upon in case the young sentry caught sight of the missing ones.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading The volley had been the signal agreed upon in case the young sentry caught sight of the missing ones.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The next instant his rifle was at his shoulder and he began shooting into the air as fast as he could.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It came after a wearing night and a still more harrowing day.
descendingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsendɪŋ/
coming down or downward
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading As the rapid staccato volley of sound rattled forth all became excitement in the arroyo.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading The next instant his rifle was at his shoulder and he began shooting into the air as fast as he could.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading As the rapid staccato volley of sound rattled forth all became excitement in the arroyo.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
harrowingadjectiveUS /ˈheroʊɪŋ/
extremely painful
From this reading It came after a wearing night and a still more harrowing day.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The next instant his rifle was at his shoulder and he began shooting into the air as fast as he could.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The next instant his rifle was at his shoulder and he began shooting into the air as fast as he could.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading The next instant his rifle was at his shoulder and he began shooting into the air as fast as he could.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The next instant his rifle was at his shoulder and he began shooting into the air as fast as he could.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It came after a wearing night and a still more harrowing day.
Jimsy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
MAZEnounUS /meɪz/
complex system of paths or tunnels in which it is easy to get lost
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
missingadjectiveUS /ˈmɪsɪŋ/
not able to be found
From this reading The volley had been the signal agreed upon in case the young sentry caught sight of the missing ones.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It came after a wearing night and a still more harrowing day.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next instant his rifle was at his shoulder and he began shooting into the air as fast as he could.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading It came after a wearing night and a still more harrowing day.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The volley had been the signal agreed upon in case the young sentry caught sight of the missing ones.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
overlookingadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərlʊkɪŋ/
used of a height or viewpoint
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/
done or occurring in a brief period of time
From this reading As the rapid staccato volley of sound rattled forth all became excitement in the arroyo.
rattledadjectiveUS /ˈrætəld/
thrown into a state of agitated confusion; (“rattled” is an informal term)
From this reading As the rapid staccato volley of sound rattled forth all became excitement in the arroyo.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
sentrynounUS /ˈsentri/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading The volley had been the signal agreed upon in case the young sentry caught sight of the missing ones.
shootingnounUS /ˈʃuːtɪŋ/
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading The next instant his rifle was at his shoulder and he began shooting into the air as fast as he could.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading The next instant his rifle was at his shoulder and he began shooting into the air as fast as he could.
utter in a loud voice; talk in a loud voice (usually denoting characteristic manner of speaking)
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading The volley had been the signal agreed upon in case the young sentry caught sight of the missing ones.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading The volley had been the signal agreed upon in case the young sentry caught sight of the missing ones.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading As the rapid staccato volley of sound rattled forth all became excitement in the arroyo.
staccatoadjectiveUS /stəˈkɑːtoʊ/
(music) marked by or composed of disconnected parts or sounds; cut short crisply
From this reading As the rapid staccato volley of sound rattled forth all became excitement in the arroyo.
stationedverbUS /ˈsteɪʃənd/
past form of “station” — assign to a station
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
not in physical motion
From this reading It came after a wearing night and a still more harrowing day.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The volley had been the signal agreed upon in case the young sentry caught sight of the missing ones.
volleynounUS /ˈvɑːli/
rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms
From this reading As the rapid staccato volley of sound rattled forth all became excitement in the arroyo.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)
From this reading It came after a wearing night and a still more harrowing day.
at the time that
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
which person or people
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
in the company of; together with
From this reading OUT OF THE DESERT MAZE Twilight was descending on the camp in the arroyo when Jimsy, who had been stationed with a rifle on a butte overlooking the desert maze, gave a sudden shout.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The volley had been the signal agreed upon in case the young sentry caught sight of the missing ones.
