used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The only sound was a faint, leathery whisper from the dusty boots.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Each man carried his gun in his left hand and braced himself with his right against the wall.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Each man carried his gun in his left hand and braced himself with his right against the wall.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They stayed as close to that wall as possible to minimize the creaking of the stairs.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Wallie cursed inwardly at his lack of foresight in not having his men go stocking-footed to the double murder.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading GUNS TALK BACK The murder-bent quintet went up the stairs like Indians stalking single file through wooded land.
plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading The only sound was a faint, leathery whisper from the dusty boots.
bracedadjectiveUS /breɪst/
positioned so as to be ready for confrontation or danger
From this reading Each man carried his gun in his left hand and braced himself with his right against the wall.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Each man carried his gun in his left hand and braced himself with his right against the wall.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading They stayed as close to that wall as possible to minimize the creaking of the stairs.
creakingnounUS /ˈkriːkɪŋ/
a squeaking sound
From this reading They stayed as close to that wall as possible to minimize the creaking of the stairs.
cursedadjectiveUS /kɜːrst/
deserving a curse; sometimes used as an intensifier
From this reading Wallie cursed inwardly at his lack of foresight in not having his men go stocking-footed to the double murder.
increase twofold
From this reading Wallie cursed inwardly at his lack of foresight in not having his men go stocking-footed to the double murder.
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading The only sound was a faint, leathery whisper from the dusty boots.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Each man carried his gun in his left hand and braced himself with his right against the wall.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading The only sound was a faint, leathery whisper from the dusty boots.
fileverbUS /faɪl/
record in a public office or in a court of law
From this reading GUNS TALK BACK The murder-bent quintet went up the stairs like Indians stalking single file through wooded land.
foresightnounUS /ˈfɔːrsaɪt/
providence by virtue of planning prudently for the future
From this reading Wallie cursed inwardly at his lack of foresight in not having his men go stocking-footed to the double murder.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The only sound was a faint, leathery whisper from the dusty boots.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Wallie cursed inwardly at his lack of foresight in not having his men go stocking-footed to the double murder.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading Each man carried his gun in his left hand and braced himself with his right against the wall.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading GUNS TALK BACK The murder-bent quintet went up the stairs like Indians stalking single file through wooded land.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Each man carried his gun in his left hand and braced himself with his right against the wall.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Wallie cursed inwardly at his lack of foresight in not having his men go stocking-footed to the double murder.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Each man carried his gun in his left hand and braced himself with his right against the wall.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Each man carried his gun in his left hand and braced himself with his right against the wall.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Each man carried his gun in his left hand and braced himself with his right against the wall.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading GUNS TALK BACK The murder-bent quintet went up the stairs like Indians stalking single file through wooded land.
inwardlyadverbUS /ˈɪnwərdli/
with respect to private feelings
From this reading Wallie cursed inwardly at his lack of foresight in not having his men go stocking-footed to the double murder.
the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
From this reading Wallie cursed inwardly at his lack of foresight in not having his men go stocking-footed to the double murder.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading GUNS TALK BACK The murder-bent quintet went up the stairs like Indians stalking single file through wooded land.
leatheryadjectiveUS /ˈleðəri/
resembling or made to resemble leather; tough but pliable
From this reading The only sound was a faint, leathery whisper from the dusty boots.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Each man carried his gun in his left hand and braced himself with his right against the wall.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading GUNS TALK BACK The murder-bent quintet went up the stairs like Indians stalking single file through wooded land.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Each man carried his gun in his left hand and braced himself with his right against the wall.
the force of workers available
From this reading Wallie cursed inwardly at his lack of foresight in not having his men go stocking-footed to the double murder.
minimizeverbUS /ˈmɪnəmaɪz/
make small or insignificant
From this reading They stayed as close to that wall as possible to minimize the creaking of the stairs.
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading Wallie cursed inwardly at his lack of foresight in not having his men go stocking-footed to the double murder.
murder-bent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GUNS TALK BACK The murder-bent quintet went up the stairs like Indians stalking single file through wooded land.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Wallie cursed inwardly at his lack of foresight in not having his men go stocking-footed to the double murder.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They stayed as close to that wall as possible to minimize the creaking of the stairs.
and nothing more
From this reading The only sound was a faint, leathery whisper from the dusty boots.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading They stayed as close to that wall as possible to minimize the creaking of the stairs.
quintetnounUS /kwɪnˈtet/
a musical composition for five performers
From this reading GUNS TALK BACK The murder-bent quintet went up the stairs like Indians stalking single file through wooded land.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Each man carried his gun in his left hand and braced himself with his right against the wall.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading GUNS TALK BACK The murder-bent quintet went up the stairs like Indians stalking single file through wooded land.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The only sound was a faint, leathery whisper from the dusty boots.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading GUNS TALK BACK The murder-bent quintet went up the stairs like Indians stalking single file through wooded land.
stalkingnounUS /ˈstɔːkɪŋ/
a hunt for game carried on by following it stealthily or waiting in ambush
From this reading GUNS TALK BACK The murder-bent quintet went up the stairs like Indians stalking single file through wooded land.
past form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading They stayed as close to that wall as possible to minimize the creaking of the stairs.
stocking-footed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wallie cursed inwardly at his lack of foresight in not having his men go stocking-footed to the double murder.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading GUNS TALK BACK The murder-bent quintet went up the stairs like Indians stalking single file through wooded land.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They stayed as close to that wall as possible to minimize the creaking of the stairs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading GUNS TALK BACK The murder-bent quintet went up the stairs like Indians stalking single file through wooded land.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They stayed as close to that wall as possible to minimize the creaking of the stairs.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading GUNS TALK BACK The murder-bent quintet went up the stairs like Indians stalking single file through wooded land.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They stayed as close to that wall as possible to minimize the creaking of the stairs.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading GUNS TALK BACK The murder-bent quintet went up the stairs like Indians stalking single file through wooded land.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Each man carried his gun in his left hand and braced himself with his right against the wall.
Wallie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wallie cursed inwardly at his lack of foresight in not having his men go stocking-footed to the double murder.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The only sound was a faint, leathery whisper from the dusty boots.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading GUNS TALK BACK The murder-bent quintet went up the stairs like Indians stalking single file through wooded land.
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading The only sound was a faint, leathery whisper from the dusty boots.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Each man carried his gun in his left hand and braced himself with his right against the wall.
woodedadjectiveUS /ˈwʊdɪd/
covered with growing trees and bushes etc
From this reading GUNS TALK BACK The murder-bent quintet went up the stairs like Indians stalking single file through wooded land.
