used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading WITHIN THE CIRCLE Bill Wilder was squatting on a boulder under cover of the stone-built fortifications.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading His grey eyes were pre-occupied, searching the red, sandy foreshore across the river, which rose gently, baldly, sloping steadily upwards to the boulder-strewn, serrated skyline beyond.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His rifle was lying in an emplacement overlooking the waterway below.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading His rifle lay in another emplacement ready for immediate use.
baldlyadverbUS /ˈbɔːldli/
in a bald manner
From this reading His grey eyes were pre-occupied, searching the red, sandy foreshore across the river, which rose gently, baldly, sloping steadily upwards to the boulder-strewn, serrated skyline beyond.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading His rifle was lying in an emplacement overlooking the waterway below.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading His grey eyes were pre-occupied, searching the red, sandy foreshore across the river, which rose gently, baldly, sloping steadily upwards to the boulder-strewn, serrated skyline beyond.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading WITHIN THE CIRCLE Bill Wilder was squatting on a boulder under cover of the stone-built fortifications.
bouldernounUS /ˈboʊldər/
a large smooth mass of rock detached from its place of origin
From this reading WITHIN THE CIRCLE Bill Wilder was squatting on a boulder under cover of the stone-built fortifications.
boulder-strewn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His grey eyes were pre-occupied, searching the red, sandy foreshore across the river, which rose gently, baldly, sloping steadily upwards to the boulder-strewn, serrated skyline beyond.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Chilcoot was seated near by.
Chilcoot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Chilcoot was seated near by.
ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading WITHIN THE CIRCLE Bill Wilder was squatting on a boulder under cover of the stone-built fortifications.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading WITHIN THE CIRCLE Bill Wilder was squatting on a boulder under cover of the stone-built fortifications.
emplacementnounUS /ɪmˈpleɪsmənt/
military installation consisting of a prepared position for siting a weapon
From this reading His rifle was lying in an emplacement overlooking the waterway below.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His grey eyes were pre-occupied, searching the red, sandy foreshore across the river, which rose gently, baldly, sloping steadily upwards to the boulder-strewn, serrated skyline beyond.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His rifle lay in another emplacement ready for immediate use.
foreshorenoun
the part of the seashore between the highwater mark and the low-water mark
From this reading His grey eyes were pre-occupied, searching the red, sandy foreshore across the river, which rose gently, baldly, sloping steadily upwards to the boulder-strewn, serrated skyline beyond.
fortificationsnounUS /ˌfɔːrtəfəˈkeɪʃənz/
plural of “fortification” — defensive structure consisting of walls or mounds built around a stronghold to strengthen it
From this reading WITHIN THE CIRCLE Bill Wilder was squatting on a boulder under cover of the stone-built fortifications.
in a gradual manner
From this reading His grey eyes were pre-occupied, searching the red, sandy foreshore across the river, which rose gently, baldly, sloping steadily upwards to the boulder-strewn, serrated skyline beyond.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading His grey eyes were pre-occupied, searching the red, sandy foreshore across the river, which rose gently, baldly, sloping steadily upwards to the boulder-strewn, serrated skyline beyond.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His rifle was lying in an emplacement overlooking the waterway below.
of the present time and place
From this reading His rifle lay in another emplacement ready for immediate use.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His rifle was lying in an emplacement overlooking the waterway below.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading His rifle lay in another emplacement ready for immediate use.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading His rifle was lying in an emplacement overlooking the waterway below.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Chilcoot was seated near by.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading WITHIN THE CIRCLE Bill Wilder was squatting on a boulder under cover of the stone-built fortifications.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading WITHIN THE CIRCLE Bill Wilder was squatting on a boulder under cover of the stone-built fortifications.
overlookingadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərlʊkɪŋ/
used of a height or viewpoint
From this reading His rifle was lying in an emplacement overlooking the waterway below.
pre-occupied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His grey eyes were pre-occupied, searching the red, sandy foreshore across the river, which rose gently, baldly, sloping steadily upwards to the boulder-strewn, serrated skyline beyond.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading His rifle lay in another emplacement ready for immediate use.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading His grey eyes were pre-occupied, searching the red, sandy foreshore across the river, which rose gently, baldly, sloping steadily upwards to the boulder-strewn, serrated skyline beyond.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading His rifle was lying in an emplacement overlooking the waterway below.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading His grey eyes were pre-occupied, searching the red, sandy foreshore across the river, which rose gently, baldly, sloping steadily upwards to the boulder-strewn, serrated skyline beyond.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading His grey eyes were pre-occupied, searching the red, sandy foreshore across the river, which rose gently, baldly, sloping steadily upwards to the boulder-strewn, serrated skyline beyond.
sandyadjectiveUS /ˈsændi/
of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown
From this reading His grey eyes were pre-occupied, searching the red, sandy foreshore across the river, which rose gently, baldly, sloping steadily upwards to the boulder-strewn, serrated skyline beyond.
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading His grey eyes were pre-occupied, searching the red, sandy foreshore across the river, which rose gently, baldly, sloping steadily upwards to the boulder-strewn, serrated skyline beyond.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Chilcoot was seated near by.
serratedadjectiveUS /ˈsereɪtɪd/
notched like a saw with teeth pointing toward the apex
From this reading His grey eyes were pre-occupied, searching the red, sandy foreshore across the river, which rose gently, baldly, sloping steadily upwards to the boulder-strewn, serrated skyline beyond.
skylinenounUS /ˈskaɪlaɪn/
the outline of objects seen against the sky
From this reading His grey eyes were pre-occupied, searching the red, sandy foreshore across the river, which rose gently, baldly, sloping steadily upwards to the boulder-strewn, serrated skyline beyond.
slopingadjectiveUS /ˈsloʊpɪŋ/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading His grey eyes were pre-occupied, searching the red, sandy foreshore across the river, which rose gently, baldly, sloping steadily upwards to the boulder-strewn, serrated skyline beyond.
squattingnounUS /ˈskwɑːtɪŋ/
exercising by repeatedly assuming a crouching position with the knees bent; strengthens the leg muscles
From this reading WITHIN THE CIRCLE Bill Wilder was squatting on a boulder under cover of the stone-built fortifications.
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading His grey eyes were pre-occupied, searching the red, sandy foreshore across the river, which rose gently, baldly, sloping steadily upwards to the boulder-strewn, serrated skyline beyond.
stone-built
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WITHIN THE CIRCLE Bill Wilder was squatting on a boulder under cover of the stone-built fortifications.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WITHIN THE CIRCLE Bill Wilder was squatting on a boulder under cover of the stone-built fortifications.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His grey eyes were pre-occupied, searching the red, sandy foreshore across the river, which rose gently, baldly, sloping steadily upwards to the boulder-strewn, serrated skyline beyond.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading WITHIN THE CIRCLE Bill Wilder was squatting on a boulder under cover of the stone-built fortifications.
upwardsadverbUS /ˈʌpwərdz/
spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position
From this reading His grey eyes were pre-occupied, searching the red, sandy foreshore across the river, which rose gently, baldly, sloping steadily upwards to the boulder-strewn, serrated skyline beyond.
the act of using
From this reading His rifle lay in another emplacement ready for immediate use.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WITHIN THE CIRCLE Bill Wilder was squatting on a boulder under cover of the stone-built fortifications.
waterwaynounUS /ˈwɔːtərweɪ/
a navigable body of water
From this reading His rifle was lying in an emplacement overlooking the waterway below.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His grey eyes were pre-occupied, searching the red, sandy foreshore across the river, which rose gently, baldly, sloping steadily upwards to the boulder-strewn, serrated skyline beyond.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading His grey eyes were pre-occupied, searching the red, sandy foreshore across the river, which rose gently, baldly, sloping steadily upwards to the boulder-strewn, serrated skyline beyond.
WildernounUS /ˈwaɪldər/
United States writer and dramatist (1897-1975)
From this reading WITHIN THE CIRCLE Bill Wilder was squatting on a boulder under cover of the stone-built fortifications.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading WITHIN THE CIRCLE Bill Wilder was squatting on a boulder under cover of the stone-built fortifications.
