used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The sun had set, and a strong west wind blew steadily up stream.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Masses of clouds were drifting across the sky, and when the moon should appear its light would be treacherous and uncertain.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading "We must wait no longer," said Hastings, "for we shall run the risk of an attack where we are, and that would be almost as bad as an ambush."
ambushverbUS /ˈæmbʊʃ/
wait in hiding to attack
From this reading "We must wait no longer," said Hastings, "for we shall run the risk of an attack where we are, and that would be almost as bad as an ambush."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "We must wait no longer," said Hastings, "for we shall run the risk of an attack where we are, and that would be almost as bad as an ambush."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading By this time night was closing over forest and river.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Masses of clouds were drifting across the sky, and when the moon should appear its light would be treacherous and uncertain.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "We must wait no longer," said Hastings, "for we shall run the risk of an attack where we are, and that would be almost as bad as an ambush."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "We must wait no longer," said Hastings, "for we shall run the risk of an attack where we are, and that would be almost as bad as an ambush."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT RATTLESNAKE GULCH.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading "We must wait no longer," said Hastings, "for we shall run the risk of an attack where we are, and that would be almost as bad as an ambush."
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading "We must wait no longer," said Hastings, "for we shall run the risk of an attack where we are, and that would be almost as bad as an ambush."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Masses of clouds were drifting across the sky, and when the moon should appear its light would be treacherous and uncertain.
inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard
From this reading The sun had set, and a strong west wind blew steadily up stream.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By this time night was closing over forest and river.
closingnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading By this time night was closing over forest and river.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading Masses of clouds were drifting across the sky, and when the moon should appear its light would be treacherous and uncertain.
driftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/
aimless wandering from place to place
From this reading Masses of clouds were drifting across the sky, and when the moon should appear its light would be treacherous and uncertain.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "We must wait no longer," said Hastings, "for we shall run the risk of an attack where we are, and that would be almost as bad as an ambush."
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading By this time night was closing over forest and river.
GULCHnounUS /ɡʌltʃ/
a narrow gorge with a stream running through it
From this reading AT RATTLESNAKE GULCH.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The sun had set, and a strong west wind blew steadily up stream.
HastingsnounUS /ˈheɪstɪŋz/
United States architect who formed and important architectural firm with John Merven Carrere (1860-1929)
From this reading "We must wait no longer," said Hastings, "for we shall run the risk of an attack where we are, and that would be almost as bad as an ambush."
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Masses of clouds were drifting across the sky, and when the moon should appear its light would be treacherous and uncertain.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Masses of clouds were drifting across the sky, and when the moon should appear its light would be treacherous and uncertain.
for more time
From this reading "We must wait no longer," said Hastings, "for we shall run the risk of an attack where we are, and that would be almost as bad as an ambush."
MassesnounUS /ˈmæsəz/
the common people generally
From this reading Masses of clouds were drifting across the sky, and when the moon should appear its light would be treacherous and uncertain.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading Masses of clouds were drifting across the sky, and when the moon should appear its light would be treacherous and uncertain.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "We must wait no longer," said Hastings, "for we shall run the risk of an attack where we are, and that would be almost as bad as an ambush."
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading By this time night was closing over forest and river.
not any; not one
From this reading "We must wait no longer," said Hastings, "for we shall run the risk of an attack where we are, and that would be almost as bad as an ambush."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Masses of clouds were drifting across the sky, and when the moon should appear its light would be treacherous and uncertain.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading By this time night was closing over forest and river.
RATTLESNAKEnounUS /ˈrætəlsneɪk/
pit viper with horny segments at the end of the tail that rattle when shaken
From this reading AT RATTLESNAKE GULCH.
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading "We must wait no longer," said Hastings, "for we shall run the risk of an attack where we are, and that would be almost as bad as an ambush."
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading By this time night was closing over forest and river.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading "We must wait no longer," said Hastings, "for we shall run the risk of an attack where we are, and that would be almost as bad as an ambush."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "We must wait no longer," said Hastings, "for we shall run the risk of an attack where we are, and that would be almost as bad as an ambush."
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The sun had set, and a strong west wind blew steadily up stream.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "We must wait no longer," said Hastings, "for we shall run the risk of an attack where we are, and that would be almost as bad as an ambush."
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Masses of clouds were drifting across the sky, and when the moon should appear its light would be treacherous and uncertain.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Masses of clouds were drifting across the sky, and when the moon should appear its light would be treacherous and uncertain.
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading The sun had set, and a strong west wind blew steadily up stream.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading The sun had set, and a strong west wind blew steadily up stream.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading The sun had set, and a strong west wind blew steadily up stream.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sun had set, and a strong west wind blew steadily up stream.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "We must wait no longer," said Hastings, "for we shall run the risk of an attack where we are, and that would be almost as bad as an ambush."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sun had set, and a strong west wind blew steadily up stream.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading By this time night was closing over forest and river.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading By this time night was closing over forest and river.
treacherousadjectiveUS /ˈtretʃərəs/
dangerously unstable and unpredictable
From this reading Masses of clouds were drifting across the sky, and when the moon should appear its light would be treacherous and uncertain.
uncertainadjectiveUS /ənˈsɜːrtən/
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
From this reading Masses of clouds were drifting across the sky, and when the moon should appear its light would be treacherous and uncertain.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The sun had set, and a strong west wind blew steadily up stream.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading "We must wait no longer," said Hastings, "for we shall run the risk of an attack where we are, and that would be almost as bad as an ambush."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading By this time night was closing over forest and river.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We must wait no longer," said Hastings, "for we shall run the risk of an attack where we are, and that would be almost as bad as an ambush."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Masses of clouds were drifting across the sky, and when the moon should appear its light would be treacherous and uncertain.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading The sun had set, and a strong west wind blew steadily up stream.
at the time that
From this reading Masses of clouds were drifting across the sky, and when the moon should appear its light would be treacherous and uncertain.
in or at the place that
From this reading "We must wait no longer," said Hastings, "for we shall run the risk of an attack where we are, and that would be almost as bad as an ambush."
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The sun had set, and a strong west wind blew steadily up stream.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Masses of clouds were drifting across the sky, and when the moon should appear its light would be treacherous and uncertain.
