used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A brisk wind sprang up ere we were well clear of the Montell camp.
abruptadjectiveUS /əˈbrʌpt/
marked by sudden changes in subject and sharp transitions
From this reading It lighted the way, so that we could see sudden dips in the prairie, buffalo-wallows and such abrupt depressions, before we reached them.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In half an hour it was blowing a gale.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Overhead the clouds ripped apart in the lash of the wind, and a belated moon peered tentatively through the torn places.
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading Overhead the clouds ripped apart in the lash of the wind, and a belated moon peered tentatively through the torn places.
Barreau
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the lifting of the solid black that had walled us in Barreau set a faster pace.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It lighted the way, so that we could see sudden dips in the prairie, buffalo-wallows and such abrupt depressions, before we reached them.
belatedadjectiveUS /bɪˈleɪtɪd/
after the expected or usual time; delayed
From this reading Overhead the clouds ripped apart in the lash of the wind, and a belated moon peered tentatively through the torn places.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading With the lifting of the solid black that had walled us in Barreau set a faster pace.
blowingnounUS /ˈbloʊɪŋ/
processing that involves blowing a gas
From this reading In half an hour it was blowing a gale.
briskadjectiveUS /brɪsk/
quick and energetic
From this reading A brisk wind sprang up ere we were well clear of the Montell camp.
buffalo-wallows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It lighted the way, so that we could see sudden dips in the prairie, buffalo-wallows and such abrupt depressions, before we reached them.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading A brisk wind sprang up ere we were well clear of the Montell camp.
rid of obstructions
From this reading A brisk wind sprang up ere we were well clear of the Montell camp.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading Overhead the clouds ripped apart in the lash of the wind, and a belated moon peered tentatively through the torn places.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It lighted the way, so that we could see sudden dips in the prairie, buffalo-wallows and such abrupt depressions, before we reached them.
depressionsnounUS /dɪˈpreʃənz/
plural of “depression” — a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity
From this reading It lighted the way, so that we could see sudden dips in the prairie, buffalo-wallows and such abrupt depressions, before we reached them.
dipsnounUS /dɪps/
plural of “dip” — a depression in an otherwise level surface
From this reading It lighted the way, so that we could see sudden dips in the prairie, buffalo-wallows and such abrupt depressions, before we reached them.
an old word for “before”
From this reading A brisk wind sprang up ere we were well clear of the Montell camp.
fasteradverbUS /ˈfæstər/
more quickly
From this reading With the lifting of the solid black that had walled us in Barreau set a faster pace.
galenounUS /ɡeɪl/
a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale
From this reading In half an hour it was blowing a gale.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading With the lifting of the solid black that had walled us in Barreau set a faster pace.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading In half an hour it was blowing a gale.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading In half an hour it was blowing a gale.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In half an hour it was blowing a gale.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In half an hour it was blowing a gale.
lashverbUS /læʃ/
beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading Overhead the clouds ripped apart in the lash of the wind, and a belated moon peered tentatively through the torn places.
liftingverbUS /ˈlɪftɪŋ/
-ing form of “lift” — raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading With the lifting of the solid black that had walled us in Barreau set a faster pace.
set afire or burning
From this reading It lighted the way, so that we could see sudden dips in the prairie, buffalo-wallows and such abrupt depressions, before we reached them.
Montell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A brisk wind sprang up ere we were well clear of the Montell camp.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading Overhead the clouds ripped apart in the lash of the wind, and a belated moon peered tentatively through the torn places.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A brisk wind sprang up ere we were well clear of the Montell camp.
OverheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading Overhead the clouds ripped apart in the lash of the wind, and a belated moon peered tentatively through the torn places.
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading With the lifting of the solid black that had walled us in Barreau set a faster pace.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading Overhead the clouds ripped apart in the lash of the wind, and a belated moon peered tentatively through the torn places.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Overhead the clouds ripped apart in the lash of the wind, and a belated moon peered tentatively through the torn places.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading It lighted the way, so that we could see sudden dips in the prairie, buffalo-wallows and such abrupt depressions, before we reached them.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading It lighted the way, so that we could see sudden dips in the prairie, buffalo-wallows and such abrupt depressions, before we reached them.
rippedadjectiveUS /rɪpt/
stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading Overhead the clouds ripped apart in the lash of the wind, and a belated moon peered tentatively through the torn places.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It lighted the way, so that we could see sudden dips in the prairie, buffalo-wallows and such abrupt depressions, before we reached them.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading With the lifting of the solid black that had walled us in Barreau set a faster pace.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It lighted the way, so that we could see sudden dips in the prairie, buffalo-wallows and such abrupt depressions, before we reached them.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading With the lifting of the solid black that had walled us in Barreau set a faster pace.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading A brisk wind sprang up ere we were well clear of the Montell camp.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It lighted the way, so that we could see sudden dips in the prairie, buffalo-wallows and such abrupt depressions, before we reached them.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading It lighted the way, so that we could see sudden dips in the prairie, buffalo-wallows and such abrupt depressions, before we reached them.
tentativelyadverbUS /ˈtentətɪvli/
in a tentative manner
From this reading Overhead the clouds ripped apart in the lash of the wind, and a belated moon peered tentatively through the torn places.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It lighted the way, so that we could see sudden dips in the prairie, buffalo-wallows and such abrupt depressions, before we reached them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A brisk wind sprang up ere we were well clear of the Montell camp.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It lighted the way, so that we could see sudden dips in the prairie, buffalo-wallows and such abrupt depressions, before we reached them.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Overhead the clouds ripped apart in the lash of the wind, and a belated moon peered tentatively through the torn places.
having edges that are jagged from injury
From this reading Overhead the clouds ripped apart in the lash of the wind, and a belated moon peered tentatively through the torn places.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A brisk wind sprang up ere we were well clear of the Montell camp.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading With the lifting of the solid black that had walled us in Barreau set a faster pace.
walledverbUS /wɔːld/
past form of “wall” — surround with a wall in order to fortify
From this reading With the lifting of the solid black that had walled us in Barreau set a faster pace.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In half an hour it was blowing a gale.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It lighted the way, so that we could see sudden dips in the prairie, buffalo-wallows and such abrupt depressions, before we reached them.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading A brisk wind sprang up ere we were well clear of the Montell camp.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading A brisk wind sprang up ere we were well clear of the Montell camp.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A brisk wind sprang up ere we were well clear of the Montell camp.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading A brisk wind sprang up ere we were well clear of the Montell camp.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With the lifting of the solid black that had walled us in Barreau set a faster pace.
