used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The dawn was just commencing to overshadow the horizon with transient opaline tints; a few stars were still glistening in the dark blue sky.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Valentine opened his eyes, looked around him anxiously, and after employing a few seconds in shaking off his drowsiness, he rose slowly and awoke his comrades, who were still sleeping, rolled up in their blankets.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The wild beasts were leaving their watering places, and slowly retiring to their dens, disturbing at intervals the solemn silence of the desert with their sinister howling.
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading Valentine opened his eyes, looked around him anxiously, and after employing a few seconds in shaking off his drowsiness, he rose slowly and awoke his comrades, who were still sleeping, rolled up in their blankets.
armfuls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Soon, the whole little party were collected round the fire, on which the hunter had thrown a few armfuls of dry wood, and in whose brilliant flames the breakfast was now preparing.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Valentine opened his eyes, looked around him anxiously, and after employing a few seconds in shaking off his drowsiness, he rose slowly and awoke his comrades, who were still sleeping, rolled up in their blankets.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The wild beasts were leaving their watering places, and slowly retiring to their dens, disturbing at intervals the solemn silence of the desert with their sinister howling.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading Valentine opened his eyes, looked around him anxiously, and after employing a few seconds in shaking off his drowsiness, he rose slowly and awoke his comrades, who were still sleeping, rolled up in their blankets.
plural of “beast” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading The wild beasts were leaving their watering places, and slowly retiring to their dens, disturbing at intervals the solemn silence of the desert with their sinister howling.
blanketsnounUS /ˈblæŋkəts/
plural of “blanket” — bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading Valentine opened his eyes, looked around him anxiously, and after employing a few seconds in shaking off his drowsiness, he rose slowly and awoke his comrades, who were still sleeping, rolled up in their blankets.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The dawn was just commencing to overshadow the horizon with transient opaline tints; a few stars were still glistening in the dark blue sky.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading Soon, the whole little party were collected round the fire, on which the hunter had thrown a few armfuls of dry wood, and in whose brilliant flames the breakfast was now preparing.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading Soon, the whole little party were collected round the fire, on which the hunter had thrown a few armfuls of dry wood, and in whose brilliant flames the breakfast was now preparing.
collectedadjectiveUS /kəˈlektəd/
brought together in one place
From this reading Soon, the whole little party were collected round the fire, on which the hunter had thrown a few armfuls of dry wood, and in whose brilliant flames the breakfast was now preparing.
commencingverbUS /kəˈmensɪŋ/
-ing form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The dawn was just commencing to overshadow the horizon with transient opaline tints; a few stars were still glistening in the dark blue sky.
plural of “comrade” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Valentine opened his eyes, looked around him anxiously, and after employing a few seconds in shaking off his drowsiness, he rose slowly and awoke his comrades, who were still sleeping, rolled up in their blankets.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The dawn was just commencing to overshadow the horizon with transient opaline tints; a few stars were still glistening in the dark blue sky.
the first light of day
From this reading The dawn was just commencing to overshadow the horizon with transient opaline tints; a few stars were still glistening in the dark blue sky.
densnounUS /denz/
plural of “den” — the habitation of wild animals
From this reading The wild beasts were leaving their watering places, and slowly retiring to their dens, disturbing at intervals the solemn silence of the desert with their sinister howling.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading The wild beasts were leaving their watering places, and slowly retiring to their dens, disturbing at intervals the solemn silence of the desert with their sinister howling.
disturbingadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɜːrbɪŋ/
causing distress or worry or anxiety
From this reading The wild beasts were leaving their watering places, and slowly retiring to their dens, disturbing at intervals the solemn silence of the desert with their sinister howling.
drowsinessnounUS /ˈdraʊzinəs/
a very sleepy state
From this reading Valentine opened his eyes, looked around him anxiously, and after employing a few seconds in shaking off his drowsiness, he rose slowly and awoke his comrades, who were still sleeping, rolled up in their blankets.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading Soon, the whole little party were collected round the fire, on which the hunter had thrown a few armfuls of dry wood, and in whose brilliant flames the breakfast was now preparing.
employingverbUS /emˈplɔɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “employ” — put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
From this reading Valentine opened his eyes, looked around him anxiously, and after employing a few seconds in shaking off his drowsiness, he rose slowly and awoke his comrades, who were still sleeping, rolled up in their blankets.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Valentine opened his eyes, looked around him anxiously, and after employing a few seconds in shaking off his drowsiness, he rose slowly and awoke his comrades, who were still sleeping, rolled up in their blankets.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The dawn was just commencing to overshadow the horizon with transient opaline tints; a few stars were still glistening in the dark blue sky.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Soon, the whole little party were collected round the fire, on which the hunter had thrown a few armfuls of dry wood, and in whose brilliant flames the breakfast was now preparing.
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading Soon, the whole little party were collected round the fire, on which the hunter had thrown a few armfuls of dry wood, and in whose brilliant flames the breakfast was now preparing.
glisteningadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪsənɪŋ/
reflecting light
From this reading The dawn was just commencing to overshadow the horizon with transient opaline tints; a few stars were still glistening in the dark blue sky.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Soon, the whole little party were collected round the fire, on which the hunter had thrown a few armfuls of dry wood, and in whose brilliant flames the breakfast was now preparing.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Valentine opened his eyes, looked around him anxiously, and after employing a few seconds in shaking off his drowsiness, he rose slowly and awoke his comrades, who were still sleeping, rolled up in their blankets.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Valentine opened his eyes, looked around him anxiously, and after employing a few seconds in shaking off his drowsiness, he rose slowly and awoke his comrades, who were still sleeping, rolled up in their blankets.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Valentine opened his eyes, looked around him anxiously, and after employing a few seconds in shaking off his drowsiness, he rose slowly and awoke his comrades, who were still sleeping, rolled up in their blankets.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading The dawn was just commencing to overshadow the horizon with transient opaline tints; a few stars were still glistening in the dark blue sky.
howlingnounUS /ˈhaʊlɪŋ/
a long loud emotional utterance
From this reading The wild beasts were leaving their watering places, and slowly retiring to their dens, disturbing at intervals the solemn silence of the desert with their sinister howling.
someone who hunts game
From this reading Soon, the whole little party were collected round the fire, on which the hunter had thrown a few armfuls of dry wood, and in whose brilliant flames the breakfast was now preparing.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The dawn was just commencing to overshadow the horizon with transient opaline tints; a few stars were still glistening in the dark blue sky.
intervalsnounUS /ˈɪntərvəlz/
plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading The wild beasts were leaving their watering places, and slowly retiring to their dens, disturbing at intervals the solemn silence of the desert with their sinister howling.
and nothing more
From this reading The dawn was just commencing to overshadow the horizon with transient opaline tints; a few stars were still glistening in the dark blue sky.
the act of departing
From this reading The wild beasts were leaving their watering places, and slowly retiring to their dens, disturbing at intervals the solemn silence of the desert with their sinister howling.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Soon, the whole little party were collected round the fire, on which the hunter had thrown a few armfuls of dry wood, and in whose brilliant flames the breakfast was now preparing.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Valentine opened his eyes, looked around him anxiously, and after employing a few seconds in shaking off his drowsiness, he rose slowly and awoke his comrades, who were still sleeping, rolled up in their blankets.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Soon, the whole little party were collected round the fire, on which the hunter had thrown a few armfuls of dry wood, and in whose brilliant flames the breakfast was now preparing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The wild beasts were leaving their watering places, and slowly retiring to their dens, disturbing at intervals the solemn silence of the desert with their sinister howling.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Valentine opened his eyes, looked around him anxiously, and after employing a few seconds in shaking off his drowsiness, he rose slowly and awoke his comrades, who were still sleeping, rolled up in their blankets.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Soon, the whole little party were collected round the fire, on which the hunter had thrown a few armfuls of dry wood, and in whose brilliant flames the breakfast was now preparing.
opalineadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpəliːn/
having a play of lustrous rainbow colors
From this reading The dawn was just commencing to overshadow the horizon with transient opaline tints; a few stars were still glistening in the dark blue sky.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Valentine opened his eyes, looked around him anxiously, and after employing a few seconds in shaking off his drowsiness, he rose slowly and awoke his comrades, who were still sleeping, rolled up in their blankets.
overshadowverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈʃædoʊ/
be greater in significance than
From this reading The dawn was just commencing to overshadow the horizon with transient opaline tints; a few stars were still glistening in the dark blue sky.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Soon, the whole little party were collected round the fire, on which the hunter had thrown a few armfuls of dry wood, and in whose brilliant flames the breakfast was now preparing.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The wild beasts were leaving their watering places, and slowly retiring to their dens, disturbing at intervals the solemn silence of the desert with their sinister howling.
preparingverbUS /priˈperɪŋ/
-ing form of “prepare” — make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
From this reading Soon, the whole little party were collected round the fire, on which the hunter had thrown a few armfuls of dry wood, and in whose brilliant flames the breakfast was now preparing.
retiringadjectiveUS /rɪˈtaɪrɪŋ/
not arrogant or presuming
From this reading The wild beasts were leaving their watering places, and slowly retiring to their dens, disturbing at intervals the solemn silence of the desert with their sinister howling.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading Valentine opened his eyes, looked around him anxiously, and after employing a few seconds in shaking off his drowsiness, he rose slowly and awoke his comrades, who were still sleeping, rolled up in their blankets.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Valentine opened his eyes, looked around him anxiously, and after employing a few seconds in shaking off his drowsiness, he rose slowly and awoke his comrades, who were still sleeping, rolled up in their blankets.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Soon, the whole little party were collected round the fire, on which the hunter had thrown a few armfuls of dry wood, and in whose brilliant flames the breakfast was now preparing.
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Valentine opened his eyes, looked around him anxiously, and after employing a few seconds in shaking off his drowsiness, he rose slowly and awoke his comrades, who were still sleeping, rolled up in their blankets.
the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements
From this reading Valentine opened his eyes, looked around him anxiously, and after employing a few seconds in shaking off his drowsiness, he rose slowly and awoke his comrades, who were still sleeping, rolled up in their blankets.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The wild beasts were leaving their watering places, and slowly retiring to their dens, disturbing at intervals the solemn silence of the desert with their sinister howling.
sinisteradjectiveUS /ˈsɪnɪstər/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading The wild beasts were leaving their watering places, and slowly retiring to their dens, disturbing at intervals the solemn silence of the desert with their sinister howling.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The dawn was just commencing to overshadow the horizon with transient opaline tints; a few stars were still glistening in the dark blue sky.
the state of being asleep
From this reading Valentine opened his eyes, looked around him anxiously, and after employing a few seconds in shaking off his drowsiness, he rose slowly and awoke his comrades, who were still sleeping, rolled up in their blankets.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading The wild beasts were leaving their watering places, and slowly retiring to their dens, disturbing at intervals the solemn silence of the desert with their sinister howling.
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading The wild beasts were leaving their watering places, and slowly retiring to their dens, disturbing at intervals the solemn silence of the desert with their sinister howling.
in the near future
From this reading Soon, the whole little party were collected round the fire, on which the hunter had thrown a few armfuls of dry wood, and in whose brilliant flames the breakfast was now preparing.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading The dawn was just commencing to overshadow the horizon with transient opaline tints; a few stars were still glistening in the dark blue sky.
not in physical motion
From this reading The dawn was just commencing to overshadow the horizon with transient opaline tints; a few stars were still glistening in the dark blue sky.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TRAIL.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The wild beasts were leaving their watering places, and slowly retiring to their dens, disturbing at intervals the solemn silence of the desert with their sinister howling.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading Soon, the whole little party were collected round the fire, on which the hunter had thrown a few armfuls of dry wood, and in whose brilliant flames the breakfast was now preparing.
tintsnounUS /tɪnts/
plural of “tint” — a quality of a given color that differs slightly from another color
From this reading The dawn was just commencing to overshadow the horizon with transient opaline tints; a few stars were still glistening in the dark blue sky.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The dawn was just commencing to overshadow the horizon with transient opaline tints; a few stars were still glistening in the dark blue sky.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading THE TRAIL.
transientnounUS /ˈtrænʒənt/
one who stays for only a short time
From this reading The dawn was just commencing to overshadow the horizon with transient opaline tints; a few stars were still glistening in the dark blue sky.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Valentine opened his eyes, looked around him anxiously, and after employing a few seconds in shaking off his drowsiness, he rose slowly and awoke his comrades, who were still sleeping, rolled up in their blankets.
ValentinenounUS /ˈvæləntaɪn/
a sweetheart chosen to receive a greeting on Saint Valentine's Day
From this reading Valentine opened his eyes, looked around him anxiously, and after employing a few seconds in shaking off his drowsiness, he rose slowly and awoke his comrades, who were still sleeping, rolled up in their blankets.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The dawn was just commencing to overshadow the horizon with transient opaline tints; a few stars were still glistening in the dark blue sky.
wateringnounUS /ˈwɔːtərɪŋ/
shedding tears
From this reading The wild beasts were leaving their watering places, and slowly retiring to their dens, disturbing at intervals the solemn silence of the desert with their sinister howling.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The dawn was just commencing to overshadow the horizon with transient opaline tints; a few stars were still glistening in the dark blue sky.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Soon, the whole little party were collected round the fire, on which the hunter had thrown a few armfuls of dry wood, and in whose brilliant flames the breakfast was now preparing.
which person or people
From this reading Valentine opened his eyes, looked around him anxiously, and after employing a few seconds in shaking off his drowsiness, he rose slowly and awoke his comrades, who were still sleeping, rolled up in their blankets.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Soon, the whole little party were collected round the fire, on which the hunter had thrown a few armfuls of dry wood, and in whose brilliant flames the breakfast was now preparing.
belonging to which person
From this reading Soon, the whole little party were collected round the fire, on which the hunter had thrown a few armfuls of dry wood, and in whose brilliant flames the breakfast was now preparing.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading The wild beasts were leaving their watering places, and slowly retiring to their dens, disturbing at intervals the solemn silence of the desert with their sinister howling.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The dawn was just commencing to overshadow the horizon with transient opaline tints; a few stars were still glistening in the dark blue sky.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading Soon, the whole little party were collected round the fire, on which the hunter had thrown a few armfuls of dry wood, and in whose brilliant flames the breakfast was now preparing.
