used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The sun had descended on the horizon, and darkness was invading the sky; ere long a dense veil of gloom was spread over the entire face of nature.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The Indians seemed to have given up all idea of attacking the whites, but did not leave the riverbank; on the contrary, their number momentarily increased.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sun had descended on the horizon, and darkness was invading the sky; ere long a dense veil of gloom was spread over the entire face of nature.
attackingadjectiveUS /əˈtækɪŋ/
disposed to attack
From this reading The Indians seemed to have given up all idea of attacking the whites, but did not leave the riverbank; on the contrary, their number momentarily increased.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading On either bank of the Gila they had lit large fires, and put up their tents.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
boiledadjectiveUS /bɔɪld/
cooked in hot water
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Indians seemed to have given up all idea of attacking the whites, but did not leave the riverbank; on the contrary, their number momentarily increased.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
very opposed in nature or character or purpose
From this reading The Indians seemed to have given up all idea of attacking the whites, but did not leave the riverbank; on the contrary, their number momentarily increased.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The sun had descended on the horizon, and darkness was invading the sky; ere long a dense veil of gloom was spread over the entire face of nature.
denseadjectiveUS /dens/
permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
From this reading The sun had descended on the horizon, and darkness was invading the sky; ere long a dense veil of gloom was spread over the entire face of nature.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading The sun had descended on the horizon, and darkness was invading the sky; ere long a dense veil of gloom was spread over the entire face of nature.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The Indians seemed to have given up all idea of attacking the whites, but did not leave the riverbank; on the contrary, their number momentarily increased.
one or the other of two
From this reading On either bank of the Gila they had lit large fires, and put up their tents.
plural of “enemy” — an opposing military force
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
constituting the full quantity or extent; complete
From this reading The sun had descended on the horizon, and darkness was invading the sky; ere long a dense veil of gloom was spread over the entire face of nature.
an old word for “before”
From this reading The sun had descended on the horizon, and darkness was invading the sky; ere long a dense veil of gloom was spread over the entire face of nature.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The sun had descended on the horizon, and darkness was invading the sky; ere long a dense veil of gloom was spread over the entire face of nature.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
plural of “fire” — the event of something burning (often destructive)
From this reading On either bank of the Gila they had lit large fires, and put up their tents.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
fugitivesnounUS /ˈfjuːdʒɪtɪvz/
plural of “fugitive” — someone who flees from an uncongenial situation
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
GilanounUS /ˈɡiːlə/
a river that rises in western New Mexico and flows westward through southern Arizona to become a tributary of the Colorado River
From this reading On either bank of the Gila they had lit large fires, and put up their tents.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading The Indians seemed to have given up all idea of attacking the whites, but did not leave the riverbank; on the contrary, their number momentarily increased.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading The sun had descended on the horizon, and darkness was invading the sky; ere long a dense veil of gloom was spread over the entire face of nature.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The sun had descended on the horizon, and darkness was invading the sky; ere long a dense veil of gloom was spread over the entire face of nature.
handfulsnounUS /ˈhændfʊlz/
plural of “handful” — a small number or amount
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The Indians seemed to have given up all idea of attacking the whites, but did not leave the riverbank; on the contrary, their number momentarily increased.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading The sun had descended on the horizon, and darkness was invading the sky; ere long a dense veil of gloom was spread over the entire face of nature.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The Indians seemed to have given up all idea of attacking the whites, but did not leave the riverbank; on the contrary, their number momentarily increased.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading The Indians seemed to have given up all idea of attacking the whites, but did not leave the riverbank; on the contrary, their number momentarily increased.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading The Indians seemed to have given up all idea of attacking the whites, but did not leave the riverbank; on the contrary, their number momentarily increased.
invadingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈveɪdɪŋ/
involving invasion or aggressive attack
From this reading The sun had descended on the horizon, and darkness was invading the sky; ere long a dense veil of gloom was spread over the entire face of nature.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading ON THE ISLAND.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading On either bank of the Gila they had lit large fires, and put up their tents.
go away from a place
From this reading The Indians seemed to have given up all idea of attacking the whites, but did not leave the riverbank; on the contrary, their number momentarily increased.
provided with artificial light
From this reading On either bank of the Gila they had lit large fires, and put up their tents.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
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 The sun had descended on the horizon, and darkness was invading the sky; ere long a dense veil of gloom was spread over the entire face of nature.
maizenounUS /meɪz/
tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears: widely cultivated in America in many varieties; the principal cereal in Mexico and Central and South America since pre-Columbian times
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
momentarilyadverbUS /ˌmoʊmənˈterəli/
for an instant or moment
From this reading The Indians seemed to have given up all idea of attacking the whites, but did not leave the riverbank; on the contrary, their number momentarily increased.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading The sun had descended on the horizon, and darkness was invading the sky; ere long a dense veil of gloom was spread over the entire face of nature.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Indians seemed to have given up all idea of attacking the whites, but did not leave the riverbank; on the contrary, their number momentarily increased.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading The Indians seemed to have given up all idea of attacking the whites, but did not leave the riverbank; on the contrary, their number momentarily increased.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sun had descended on the horizon, and darkness was invading the sky; ere long a dense veil of gloom was spread over the entire face of nature.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON THE ISLAND.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The sun had descended on the horizon, and darkness was invading the sky; ere long a dense veil of gloom was spread over the entire face of nature.
pemmicannoun
lean dried meat pounded fine and mixed with melted fat; used especially by North American Indians
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
provisionsnounUS /prəˈvɪʒənz/
a stock or supply of foods
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading On either bank of the Gila they had lit large fires, and put up their tents.
reassuringadjectiveUS /ˌriːəˈʃʊrɪŋ/
restoring confidence and relieving anxiety
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
reducedadjectiveUS /rəˈduːst/
made less in size or amount or degree
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
riverbanknounUS /ˈrɪvərbæŋk/
the bank of a river
From this reading The Indians seemed to have given up all idea of attacking the whites, but did not leave the riverbank; on the contrary, their number momentarily increased.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The Indians seemed to have given up all idea of attacking the whites, but did not leave the riverbank; on the contrary, their number momentarily increased.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
shelteredadjectiveUS /ˈʃeltərd/
protected from danger or bad weather
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The sun had descended on the horizon, and darkness was invading the sky; ere long a dense veil of gloom was spread over the entire face of nature.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading The sun had descended on the horizon, and darkness was invading the sky; ere long a dense veil of gloom was spread over the entire face of nature.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sun had descended on the horizon, and darkness was invading the sky; ere long a dense veil of gloom was spread over the entire face of nature.
tentsnounUS /tents/
plural of “tent” — a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading On either bank of the Gila they had lit large fires, and put up their tents.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON THE ISLAND.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The Indians seemed to have given up all idea of attacking the whites, but did not leave the riverbank; on the contrary, their number momentarily increased.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On either bank of the Gila they had lit large fires, and put up their tents.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Indians seemed to have given up all idea of attacking the whites, but did not leave the riverbank; on the contrary, their number momentarily increased.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The Indians seemed to have given up all idea of attacking the whites, but did not leave the riverbank; on the contrary, their number momentarily increased.
a garment that covers the head and face
From this reading The sun had descended on the horizon, and darkness was invading the sky; ere long a dense veil of gloom was spread over the entire face of nature.
vigilantadjectiveUS /ˈvɪdʒələnt/
carefully observant or attentive; on the lookout for possible danger
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sun had descended on the horizon, and darkness was invading the sky; ere long a dense veil of gloom was spread over the entire face of nature.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
whitesnounUS /waɪts/
plural of “white” — a Caucasian
From this reading The Indians seemed to have given up all idea of attacking the whites, but did not leave the riverbank; on the contrary, their number momentarily increased.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their provisions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican.
