used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
aimverbUS /eɪm/
point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
From this reading "Fire rapidly, but aim low.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The sharp reports of the rifles echoed along the rocky walls of the defile, and a series of loud shrieks told that the fire had not been in vain.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
backsight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Three hundred yards," said Mr. McKay, setting up the backsight of his rifle.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The sharp reports of the rifles echoed along the rocky walls of the defile, and a series of loud shrieks told that the fire had not been in vain.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading We may check the rush before they come to close quarters."
plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Fire rapidly, but aim low.
examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
From this reading We may check the rush before they come to close quarters."
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading We may check the rush before they come to close quarters."
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading We may check the rush before they come to close quarters."
defileverb
place under suspicion or cast doubt upon
From this reading The sharp reports of the rifles echoed along the rocky walls of the defile, and a series of loud shrieks told that the fire had not been in vain.
DISASTERnounUS /dɪˈzæstər/
a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
echoedverbUS /ˈekoʊd/
past form of “echo” — to say again or imitate
From this reading The sharp reports of the rifles echoed along the rocky walls of the defile, and a series of loud shrieks told that the fire had not been in vain.
start firing a weapon
From this reading "Fire rapidly, but aim low.
flarenounUS /fler/
a shape that spreads outward
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose (as furniture or equipment or authority)
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Three hundred yards," said Mr. McKay, setting up the backsight of his rifle.
ten 10s
From this reading "Three hundred yards," said Mr. McKay, setting up the backsight of his rifle.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading The sharp reports of the rifles echoed along the rocky walls of the defile, and a series of loud shrieks told that the fire had not been in vain.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading "Fire rapidly, but aim low.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading We may check the rush before they come to close quarters."
McKay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Three hundred yards," said Mr. McKay, setting up the backsight of his rifle.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "Three hundred yards," said Mr. McKay, setting up the backsight of his rifle.
plural of “native” — an indigenous person who was born in a particular place
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The sharp reports of the rifles echoed along the rocky walls of the defile, and a series of loud shrieks told that the fire had not been in vain.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
coated with paint
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
housing available for people to live in
From this reading We may check the rush before they come to close quarters."
with speed
From this reading "Fire rapidly, but aim low.
reportsnounUS /rɪˈpɔːrts/
plural of “report” — a written document describing the findings of some individual or group
From this reading The sharp reports of the rifles echoed along the rocky walls of the defile, and a series of loud shrieks told that the fire had not been in vain.
resinousadjective
having the characteristics of pitch or tar
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading "Three hundred yards," said Mr. McKay, setting up the backsight of his rifle.
riflesnounUS /ˈraɪfəlz/
plural of “rifle” — a shoulder firearm with a long barrel and a rifled bore
From this reading The sharp reports of the rifles echoed along the rocky walls of the defile, and a series of loud shrieks told that the fire had not been in vain.
rockyadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːki/
abounding in rocks or stones
From this reading The sharp reports of the rifles echoed along the rocky walls of the defile, and a series of loud shrieks told that the fire had not been in vain.
ruddyadjectiveUS /ˈrʌdi/
inclined to a healthy reddish color often associated with outdoor life
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
move hurridly
From this reading We may check the rush before they come to close quarters."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Three hundred yards," said Mr. McKay, setting up the backsight of his rifle.
similar things placed in order or happening one after another
From this reading The sharp reports of the rifles echoed along the rocky walls of the defile, and a series of loud shrieks told that the fire had not been in vain.
the context and environment in which something is set
From this reading "Three hundred yards," said Mr. McKay, setting up the backsight of his rifle.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading The sharp reports of the rifles echoed along the rocky walls of the defile, and a series of loud shrieks told that the fire had not been in vain.
shrieksnounUS /ʃriːks/
plural of “shriek” — sharp piercing cry
From this reading The sharp reports of the rifles echoed along the rocky walls of the defile, and a series of loud shrieks told that the fire had not been in vain.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The sharp reports of the rifles echoed along the rocky walls of the defile, and a series of loud shrieks told that the fire had not been in vain.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading We may check the rush before they come to close quarters."
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading "Three hundred yards," said Mr. McKay, setting up the backsight of his rifle.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We may check the rush before they come to close quarters."
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading The sharp reports of the rifles echoed along the rocky walls of the defile, and a series of loud shrieks told that the fire had not been in vain.
torchesnounUS /ˈtɔːrtʃɪz/
plural of “torch” — a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Three hundred yards," said Mr. McKay, setting up the backsight of his rifle.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading The sharp reports of the rifles echoed along the rocky walls of the defile, and a series of loud shrieks told that the fire had not been in vain.
plural of “wall” — 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 The sharp reports of the rifles echoed along the rocky walls of the defile, and a series of loud shrieks told that the fire had not been in vain.
warriorsnounUS /ˈwɔːriərz/
plural of “warrior” — someone engaged in or experienced in warfare
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We may check the rush before they come to close quarters."
in the company of; together with
From this reading A GREAT DISASTER The natives had furnished themselves with torches made from the branches of resinous trees, and in the ruddy flare the painted bodies of the warriors made an easy mark.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading "Three hundred yards," said Mr. McKay, setting up the backsight of his rifle.
