used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "A long-range fire may keep them at bay.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Barely had the defenders left the cavern than they were assailed from above by a shower of stones and spears.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE RESCUE Returning to the cave, Mr. McKay awoke the lads and hurriedly explained the nature of the threatened attack.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "We must quit this shelter and keep in the open as long as we possibly can," said he.
assailedverbUS /əˈseɪld/
past form of “assail” — attack someone physically or emotionally
From this reading Barely had the defenders left the cavern than they were assailed from above by a shower of stones and spears.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "A long-range fire may keep them at bay.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading THE RESCUE Returning to the cave, Mr. McKay awoke the lads and hurriedly explained the nature of the threatened attack.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading THE RESCUE Returning to the cave, Mr. McKay awoke the lads and hurriedly explained the nature of the threatened attack.
BarelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading Barely had the defenders left the cavern than they were assailed from above by a shower of stones and spears.
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading "A long-range fire may keep them at bay.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Barely had the defenders left the cavern than they were assailed from above by a shower of stones and spears.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "We must quit this shelter and keep in the open as long as we possibly can," said he.
a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading THE RESCUE Returning to the cave, Mr. McKay awoke the lads and hurriedly explained the nature of the threatened attack.
cavernnounUS /ˈkæv.ərn/
A large, vast underground cave, often filled with forgotten ancient treasures.
From this reading Barely had the defenders left the cavern than they were assailed from above by a shower of stones and spears.
defendersnounUS /dɪˈfendərz/
plural of “defender” — a person who cares for persons or property
From this reading Barely had the defenders left the cavern than they were assailed from above by a shower of stones and spears.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading THE RESCUE Returning to the cave, Mr. McKay awoke the lads and hurriedly explained the nature of the threatened attack.
start firing a weapon
From this reading "A long-range fire may keep them at bay.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Barely had the defenders left the cavern than they were assailed from above by a shower of stones and spears.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Barely had the defenders left the cavern than they were assailed from above by a shower of stones and spears.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "We must quit this shelter and keep in the open as long as we possibly can," said he.
hurriedlyadverbUS /ˈhɜːridli/
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading THE RESCUE Returning to the cave, Mr. McKay awoke the lads and hurriedly explained the nature of the threatened attack.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "We must quit this shelter and keep in the open as long as we possibly can," said he.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading "We must quit this shelter and keep in the open as long as we possibly can," said he.
plural of “lad” — a boy or man
From this reading THE RESCUE Returning to the cave, Mr. McKay awoke the lads and hurriedly explained the nature of the threatened attack.
immediately past
From this reading Only as a last resource must we return to the cave."
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 Barely had the defenders left the cavern than they were assailed from above by a shower of stones and spears.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading "We must quit this shelter and keep in the open as long as we possibly can," said he.
long-rangeadjectiveUS /ˈlɔːŋˈreɪndʒ/
involving an extended span of time
From this reading "A long-range fire may keep them at bay.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "A long-range fire may keep them at bay.
McKay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RESCUE Returning to the cave, Mr. McKay awoke the lads and hurriedly explained the nature of the threatened attack.
a form of address for a man
From this reading THE RESCUE Returning to the cave, Mr. McKay awoke the lads and hurriedly explained the nature of the threatened attack.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "We must quit this shelter and keep in the open as long as we possibly can," said he.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading THE RESCUE Returning to the cave, Mr. McKay awoke the lads and hurriedly explained the nature of the threatened attack.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE RESCUE Returning to the cave, Mr. McKay awoke the lads and hurriedly explained the nature of the threatened attack.
and nothing more
From this reading Only as a last resource must we return to the cave."
To move from a closed position.
From this reading "We must quit this shelter and keep in the open as long as we possibly can," said he.
by chance
From this reading "We must quit this shelter and keep in the open as long as we possibly can," said he.
quitverbUS /kwɪt/
put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading "We must quit this shelter and keep in the open as long as we possibly can," said he.
free from harm or evil
From this reading THE RESCUE Returning to the cave, Mr. McKay awoke the lads and hurriedly explained the nature of the threatened attack.
resourcenounUS /ˈriːsɔːrs/
available source of wealth; a new or reserve supply that can be drawn upon when needed
From this reading Only as a last resource must we return to the cave."
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Only as a last resource must we return to the cave."
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading THE RESCUE Returning to the cave, Mr. McKay awoke the lads and hurriedly explained the nature of the threatened attack.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "We must quit this shelter and keep in the open as long as we possibly can," said he.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading "We must quit this shelter and keep in the open as long as we possibly can," said he.
showernounUS /ˈʃaʊər/
a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you
From this reading Barely had the defenders left the cavern than they were assailed from above by a shower of stones and spears.
spearsnounUS /spɪrz/
plural of “spear” — a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon
From this reading Barely had the defenders left the cavern than they were assailed from above by a shower of stones and spears.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Barely had the defenders left the cavern than they were assailed from above by a shower of stones and spears.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Barely had the defenders left the cavern than they were assailed from above by a shower of stones and spears.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RESCUE Returning to the cave, Mr. McKay awoke the lads and hurriedly explained the nature of the threatened attack.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "A long-range fire may keep them at bay.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Barely had the defenders left the cavern than they were assailed from above by a shower of stones and spears.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "We must quit this shelter and keep in the open as long as we possibly can," said he.
(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered
From this reading THE RESCUE Returning to the cave, Mr. McKay awoke the lads and hurriedly explained the nature of the threatened attack.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE RESCUE Returning to the cave, Mr. McKay awoke the lads and hurriedly explained the nature of the threatened attack.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We must quit this shelter and keep in the open as long as we possibly can," said he.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Barely had the defenders left the cavern than they were assailed from above by a shower of stones and spears.
