used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His choice would govern a boy's fate--and, incidentally, Earth's entire future.
consider or hold as true
From this reading Colonel Devall, who headed the Terran cultural and military mission to Markin, was more cultural than military himself, and so was willing to accept the Markin belief that the sunset was a premonition of conflict.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His choice would govern a boy's fate--and, incidentally, Earth's entire future.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading The Marks connected red sunsets with approaching trouble.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading The atmosphere on Markin was not normally conducive to blood-red sunsets, though they did happen occasionally on evenings when the blue of sunlight was scattered particularly well.
for the reason that
From this reading The sun had gone down blood-red, and Colonel John Devall slept poorly because of it.
any cognitive content held as true
From this reading Colonel Devall, who headed the Terran cultural and military mission to Markin, was more cultural than military himself, and so was willing to accept the Markin belief that the sunset was a premonition of conflict.
blood-redadjective
of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies
From this reading The sun had gone down blood-red, and Colonel John Devall slept poorly because of it.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The atmosphere on Markin was not normally conducive to blood-red sunsets, though they did happen occasionally on evenings when the blue of sunlight was scattered particularly well.
boy'snounUS /bɔɪz/
possessive form of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading His choice would govern a boy's fate--and, incidentally, Earth's entire future.
the person or thing chosen or selected
From this reading His choice would govern a boy's fate--and, incidentally, Earth's entire future.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading The sun had gone down blood-red, and Colonel John Devall slept poorly because of it.
conduciveadjectiveUS /kənˈduːsɪv/
tending to bring about; being partly responsible for
From this reading The atmosphere on Markin was not normally conducive to blood-red sunsets, though they did happen occasionally on evenings when the blue of sunlight was scattered particularly well.
conflictnounUS /ˈkɑːnflɪkt/
an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals)
From this reading Colonel Devall, who headed the Terran cultural and military mission to Markin, was more cultural than military himself, and so was willing to accept the Markin belief that the sunset was a premonition of conflict.
being joined in close association
From this reading The Marks connected red sunsets with approaching trouble.
culturaladjectiveUS /ˈkʌltʃərəl/
of or relating to the arts and manners that a group favors
From this reading Colonel Devall, who headed the Terran cultural and military mission to Markin, was more cultural than military himself, and so was willing to accept the Markin belief that the sunset was a premonition of conflict.
Devall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun had gone down blood-red, and Colonel John Devall slept poorly because of it.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The atmosphere on Markin was not normally conducive to blood-red sunsets, though they did happen occasionally on evenings when the blue of sunlight was scattered particularly well.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The sun had gone down blood-red, and Colonel John Devall slept poorly because of it.
Earth'snounUS /ɜːrθs/
possessive form of “earth” — the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading His choice would govern a boy's fate--and, incidentally, Earth's entire future.
constituting the full quantity or extent; complete
From this reading His choice would govern a boy's fate--and, incidentally, Earth's entire future.
eveningsnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋz/
plural of “evening” — the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The atmosphere on Markin was not normally conducive to blood-red sunsets, though they did happen occasionally on evenings when the blue of sunlight was scattered particularly well.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading His choice would govern a boy's fate--and, incidentally, Earth's entire future.
yet to be or coming
From this reading His choice would govern a boy's fate--and, incidentally, Earth's entire future.
destroyed or killed
From this reading The sun had gone down blood-red, and Colonel John Devall slept poorly because of it.
governverbUS /ˈɡʌvərn/
bring into conformity with rules or principles or usage; impose regulations
From this reading His choice would govern a boy's fate--and, incidentally, Earth's entire future.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The sun had gone down blood-red, and Colonel John Devall slept poorly because of it.
come to pass
From this reading The atmosphere on Markin was not normally conducive to blood-red sunsets, though they did happen occasionally on evenings when the blue of sunlight was scattered particularly well.
headedadjectiveUS /ˈhedəd/
having a heading or course in a certain direction
From this reading Colonel Devall, who headed the Terran cultural and military mission to Markin, was more cultural than military himself, and so was willing to accept the Markin belief that the sunset was a premonition of conflict.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Colonel Devall, who headed the Terran cultural and military mission to Markin, was more cultural than military himself, and so was willing to accept the Markin belief that the sunset was a premonition of conflict.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His choice would govern a boy's fate--and, incidentally, Earth's entire future.
incidentallyadverbUS /ˌɪnsɪˈdentəli/
introducing a different topic
From this reading His choice would govern a boy's fate--and, incidentally, Earth's entire future.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The sun had gone down blood-red, and Colonel John Devall slept poorly because of it.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading The sun had gone down blood-red, and Colonel John Devall slept poorly because of it.
Markin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The atmosphere on Markin was not normally conducive to blood-red sunsets, though they did happen occasionally on evenings when the blue of sunlight was scattered particularly well.
English businessman who created a retail chain (1888-1964)
From this reading The Marks connected red sunsets with approaching trouble.
of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare
From this reading Colonel Devall, who headed the Terran cultural and military mission to Markin, was more cultural than military himself, and so was willing to accept the Markin belief that the sunset was a premonition of conflict.
an organization of missionaries in a foreign land sent to carry on religious work
From this reading Colonel Devall, who headed the Terran cultural and military mission to Markin, was more cultural than military himself, and so was willing to accept the Markin belief that the sunset was a premonition of conflict.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Colonel Devall, who headed the Terran cultural and military mission to Markin, was more cultural than military himself, and so was willing to accept the Markin belief that the sunset was a premonition of conflict.
normallyadverbUS /ˈnɔːrməli/
under normal conditions
From this reading The atmosphere on Markin was not normally conducive to blood-red sunsets, though they did happen occasionally on evenings when the blue of sunlight was scattered particularly well.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The atmosphere on Markin was not normally conducive to blood-red sunsets, though they did happen occasionally on evenings when the blue of sunlight was scattered particularly well.
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading The atmosphere on Markin was not normally conducive to blood-red sunsets, though they did happen occasionally on evenings when the blue of sunlight was scattered particularly well.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sun had gone down blood-red, and Colonel John Devall slept poorly because of it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The atmosphere on Markin was not normally conducive to blood-red sunsets, though they did happen occasionally on evenings when the blue of sunlight was scattered particularly well.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading The atmosphere on Markin was not normally conducive to blood-red sunsets, though they did happen occasionally on evenings when the blue of sunlight was scattered particularly well.
poorlyadverbUS /ˈpuːrli/
(“ill” is often used as a combining form) in a poor or improper or unsatisfactory manner; not well
From this reading The sun had gone down blood-red, and Colonel John Devall slept poorly because of it.
premonitionnounUS /preməˈnɪʃən/
a feeling of evil to come
From this reading Colonel Devall, who headed the Terran cultural and military mission to Markin, was more cultural than military himself, and so was willing to accept the Markin belief that the sunset was a premonition of conflict.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading The Marks connected red sunsets with approaching trouble.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading The atmosphere on Markin was not normally conducive to blood-red sunsets, though they did happen occasionally on evenings when the blue of sunlight was scattered particularly well.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading The sun had gone down blood-red, and Colonel John Devall slept poorly because of it.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Colonel Devall, who headed the Terran cultural and military mission to Markin, was more cultural than military himself, and so was willing to accept the Markin belief that the sunset was a premonition of conflict.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sun had gone down blood-red, and Colonel John Devall slept poorly because of it.
the rays of the sun
From this reading The atmosphere on Markin was not normally conducive to blood-red sunsets, though they did happen occasionally on evenings when the blue of sunlight was scattered particularly well.
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading Colonel Devall, who headed the Terran cultural and military mission to Markin, was more cultural than military himself, and so was willing to accept the Markin belief that the sunset was a premonition of conflict.
sunsetsnounUS /ˈsʌnsets/
plural of “sunset” — the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading The atmosphere on Markin was not normally conducive to blood-red sunsets, though they did happen occasionally on evenings when the blue of sunlight was scattered particularly well.
Terran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Devall, who headed the Terran cultural and military mission to Markin, was more cultural than military himself, and so was willing to accept the Markin belief that the sunset was a premonition of conflict.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Colonel Devall, who headed the Terran cultural and military mission to Markin, was more cultural than military himself, and so was willing to accept the Markin belief that the sunset was a premonition of conflict.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Colonel Devall, who headed the Terran cultural and military mission to Markin, was more cultural than military himself, and so was willing to accept the Markin belief that the sunset was a premonition of conflict.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sun had gone down blood-red, and Colonel John Devall slept poorly because of it.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The atmosphere on Markin was not normally conducive to blood-red sunsets, though they did happen occasionally on evenings when the blue of sunlight was scattered particularly well.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The atmosphere on Markin was not normally conducive to blood-red sunsets, though they did happen occasionally on evenings when the blue of sunlight was scattered particularly well.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The atmosphere on Markin was not normally conducive to blood-red sunsets, though they did happen occasionally on evenings when the blue of sunlight was scattered particularly well.
a source of difficulty
From this reading The Marks connected red sunsets with approaching trouble.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The atmosphere on Markin was not normally conducive to blood-red sunsets, though they did happen occasionally on evenings when the blue of sunlight was scattered particularly well.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The atmosphere on Markin was not normally conducive to blood-red sunsets, though they did happen occasionally on evenings when the blue of sunlight was scattered particularly well.
at the time that
From this reading The atmosphere on Markin was not normally conducive to blood-red sunsets, though they did happen occasionally on evenings when the blue of sunlight was scattered particularly well.
which person or people
From this reading Colonel Devall, who headed the Terran cultural and military mission to Markin, was more cultural than military himself, and so was willing to accept the Markin belief that the sunset was a premonition of conflict.
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading Colonel Devall, who headed the Terran cultural and military mission to Markin, was more cultural than military himself, and so was willing to accept the Markin belief that the sunset was a premonition of conflict.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Marks connected red sunsets with approaching trouble.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading His choice would govern a boy's fate--and, incidentally, Earth's entire future.
