used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE VOICE OF WARNING Dusk was falling, and a hush of emptiness and desolation brooded over the clearing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE VOICE OF WARNING Dusk was falling, and a hush of emptiness and desolation brooded over the clearing.
arrivingverbUS /ərˈaɪvɪŋ/
-ing form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Evidently the girl was the only one who had crossed here, either departing or arriving, since the fall of yesterday's snow.
broodedverbUS /ˈbruːdɪd/
past form of “brood” — think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading THE VOICE OF WARNING Dusk was falling, and a hush of emptiness and desolation brooded over the clearing.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading The cabin door was closed, and no smoke came from the mud-daubed chimney.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The cabin door was closed, and no smoke came from the mud-daubed chimney.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Quite certain that the dwelling had no present tenant, the corporal nevertheless was taking no chances.
plural of “chance” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Quite certain that the dwelling had no present tenant, the corporal nevertheless was taking no chances.
chimneynounUS /ˈtʃɪmni/
a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building
From this reading The cabin door was closed, and no smoke came from the mud-daubed chimney.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading THE VOICE OF WARNING Dusk was falling, and a hush of emptiness and desolation brooded over the clearing.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading The cabin door was closed, and no smoke came from the mud-daubed chimney.
corporalnounUS /ˈkɔːrpərəl/
a noncommissioned officer in the Army or Air Force or Marines
From this reading Quite certain that the dwelling had no present tenant, the corporal nevertheless was taking no chances.
placed crosswise
From this reading Evidently the girl was the only one who had crossed here, either departing or arriving, since the fall of yesterday's snow.
departingverbUS /dɪˈpɑːrtɪŋ/
-ing form of “depart” — move away from a place into another direction
From this reading Evidently the girl was the only one who had crossed here, either departing or arriving, since the fall of yesterday's snow.
desolationnounUS /ˌdesəˈleɪʃən/
the state of being decayed or destroyed
From this reading THE VOICE OF WARNING Dusk was falling, and a hush of emptiness and desolation brooded over the clearing.
Dexter's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dexter's eyes searched over the ground, and he saw only the single track of footprints.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The cabin door was closed, and no smoke came from the mud-daubed chimney.
DusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading THE VOICE OF WARNING Dusk was falling, and a hush of emptiness and desolation brooded over the clearing.
dwellingnounUS /ˈdwelɪŋ/
housing that someone is living in
From this reading Quite certain that the dwelling had no present tenant, the corporal nevertheless was taking no chances.
one or the other of two
From this reading Evidently the girl was the only one who had crossed here, either departing or arriving, since the fall of yesterday's snow.
emptinessnounUS /ˈemptinəs/
the state of containing nothing
From this reading THE VOICE OF WARNING Dusk was falling, and a hush of emptiness and desolation brooded over the clearing.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Evidently the girl was the only one who had crossed here, either departing or arriving, since the fall of yesterday's snow.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Dexter's eyes searched over the ground, and he saw only the single track of footprints.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading Evidently the girl was the only one who had crossed here, either departing or arriving, since the fall of yesterday's snow.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading THE VOICE OF WARNING Dusk was falling, and a hush of emptiness and desolation brooded over the clearing.
footprintsnounUS /ˈfʊtprɪnts/
plural of “footprint” — a mark of a foot or shoe on a surface
From this reading Dexter's eyes searched over the ground, and he saw only the single track of footprints.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The cabin door was closed, and no smoke came from the mud-daubed chimney.
a young female
From this reading Evidently the girl was the only one who had crossed here, either departing or arriving, since the fall of yesterday's snow.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Dexter's eyes searched over the ground, and he saw only the single track of footprints.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Evidently the girl was the only one who had crossed here, either departing or arriving, since the fall of yesterday's snow.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Dexter's eyes searched over the ground, and he saw only the single track of footprints.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Evidently the girl was the only one who had crossed here, either departing or arriving, since the fall of yesterday's snow.
become quiet or still; fall silent
From this reading THE VOICE OF WARNING Dusk was falling, and a hush of emptiness and desolation brooded over the clearing.
mud-daubed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cabin door was closed, and no smoke came from the mud-daubed chimney.
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading Quite certain that the dwelling had no present tenant, the corporal nevertheless was taking no chances.
not any; not one
From this reading The cabin door was closed, and no smoke came from the mud-daubed chimney.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE VOICE OF WARNING Dusk was falling, and a hush of emptiness and desolation brooded over the clearing.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Evidently the girl was the only one who had crossed here, either departing or arriving, since the fall of yesterday's snow.
and nothing more
From this reading Dexter's eyes searched over the ground, and he saw only the single track of footprints.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Evidently the girl was the only one who had crossed here, either departing or arriving, since the fall of yesterday's snow.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading THE VOICE OF WARNING Dusk was falling, and a hush of emptiness and desolation brooded over the clearing.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Quite certain that the dwelling had no present tenant, the corporal nevertheless was taking no chances.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Quite certain that the dwelling had no present tenant, the corporal nevertheless was taking no chances.
cut with a saw
From this reading Dexter's eyes searched over the ground, and he saw only the single track of footprints.
searchedverbUS /sɜːrtʃt/
past form of “search” — try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading Dexter's eyes searched over the ground, and he saw only the single track of footprints.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Evidently the girl was the only one who had crossed here, either departing or arriving, since the fall of yesterday's snow.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading Dexter's eyes searched over the ground, and he saw only the single track of footprints.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading The cabin door was closed, and no smoke came from the mud-daubed chimney.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading Evidently the girl was the only one who had crossed here, either departing or arriving, since the fall of yesterday's snow.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading Quite certain that the dwelling had no present tenant, the corporal nevertheless was taking no chances.
tenantnounUS /ˈtenənt/
someone who pays rent to use land or a building or a car that is owned by someone else
From this reading Quite certain that the dwelling had no present tenant, the corporal nevertheless was taking no chances.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Quite certain that the dwelling had no present tenant, the corporal nevertheless was taking no chances.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE VOICE OF WARNING Dusk was falling, and a hush of emptiness and desolation brooded over the clearing.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading Dexter's eyes searched over the ground, and he saw only the single track of footprints.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading THE VOICE OF WARNING Dusk was falling, and a hush of emptiness and desolation brooded over the clearing.
a message informing of danger
From this reading THE VOICE OF WARNING Dusk was falling, and a hush of emptiness and desolation brooded over the clearing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE VOICE OF WARNING Dusk was falling, and a hush of emptiness and desolation brooded over the clearing.
which person or people
From this reading Evidently the girl was the only one who had crossed here, either departing or arriving, since the fall of yesterday's snow.
yesterday'snounUS /ˈjestərdeɪz/
possessive form of “yesterday” — the day immediately before today
From this reading Evidently the girl was the only one who had crossed here, either departing or arriving, since the fall of yesterday's snow.
