adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After that, the shooting died away.
ammunitionnounUS /ˌæmjəˈnɪʃən/
projectiles to be fired from a gun
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As the minutes lengthened into an hour, and no word of Tad's mission had been received, the defenders began to grow restless.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
answeredverbUS /ˈænsərd/
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the minutes lengthened into an hour, and no word of Tad's mission had been received, the defenders began to grow restless.
assailedverbUS /əˈseɪld/
past form of “assail” — attack someone physically or emotionally
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading After that, the shooting died away.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading As the minutes lengthened into an hour, and no word of Tad's mission had been received, the defenders began to grow restless.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading As the minutes lengthened into an hour, and no word of Tad's mission had been received, the defenders began to grow restless.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
CONCLUSIONnounUS /kənˈkluːʒən/
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
defendersnounUS /dɪˈfendərz/
plural of “defender” — a person who cares for persons or property
From this reading As the minutes lengthened into an hour, and no word of Tad's mission had been received, the defenders began to grow restless.
diedverbUS /daɪd/
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading After that, the shooting died away.
doubleverbUS /ˈdʌbəl/
increase twofold
From this reading They were under a double tension now.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Mr. Marquand was pacing up and down the floor.
enemynounUS /ˈenəmi/
an opposing military force
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
floornounUS /flɔːr/
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Mr. Marquand was pacing up and down the floor.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
growverbUS /ɡroʊ/
pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading As the minutes lengthened into an hour, and no word of Tad's mission had been received, the defenders began to grow restless.
gunpowdernounUS /ˈɡʌnpaʊdər/
a mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur in a 75:15:10 ratio which is used in gunnery, time fuses, and fireworks
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As the minutes lengthened into an hour, and no word of Tad's mission had been received, the defenders began to grow restless.
hournounUS /ˈaʊər/
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading As the minutes lengthened into an hour, and no word of Tad's mission had been received, the defenders began to grow restless.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading As the minutes lengthened into an hour, and no word of Tad's mission had been received, the defenders began to grow restless.
lengthenedadjectiveUS /ˈleŋθənd/
drawn out or made longer spatially
From this reading As the minutes lengthened into an hour, and no word of Tad's mission had been received, the defenders began to grow restless.
lotnounUS /lɑːt/
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
MarquandnounUS /ˈmɑːrkwənd/
United States writer who created the Japanese detective Mr. Moto and wrote other novels as well (1893-1960)
From this reading Mr. Marquand was pacing up and down the floor.
minutesnounUS /ˈmɪnəts/
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading As the minutes lengthened into an hour, and no word of Tad's mission had been received, the defenders began to grow restless.
missionnounUS /ˈmɪʃən/
an organization of missionaries in a foreign land sent to carry on religious work
From this reading As the minutes lengthened into an hour, and no word of Tad's mission had been received, the defenders began to grow restless.
momentsnounUS /ˈmoʊmənts/
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Marquand was pacing up and down the floor.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading As the minutes lengthened into an hour, and no word of Tad's mission had been received, the defenders began to grow restless.
nostrilsnounUS /ˈnɑːstrəlz/
plural of “nostril” — either one of the two external openings to the nasal cavity in the nose
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading They were under a double tension now.
odornounUS /ˈoʊdər/
any property detected by the olfactory system
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
pacingnounUS /ˈpeɪsɪŋ/
(music) the speed at which a composition is to be played
From this reading Mr. Marquand was pacing up and down the floor.
receivedadjectiveUS /rəˈsiːvd/
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading As the minutes lengthened into an hour, and no word of Tad's mission had been received, the defenders began to grow restless.
restlessadjectiveUS /ˈrestləs/
worried and uneasy
From this reading As the minutes lengthened into an hour, and no word of Tad's mission had been received, the defenders began to grow restless.
shootingnounUS /ˈʃuːtɪŋ/
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading After that, the shooting died away.
shotsnounUS /ʃɑːts/
plural of “shot” — the act of firing a projectile
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
sidesnounUS /saɪdz/
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
Tad's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the minutes lengthened into an hour, and no word of Tad's mission had been received, the defenders began to grow restless.
tensionnounUS /ˈtenʃən/
(psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense
From this reading They were under a double tension now.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading After that, the shooting died away.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were under a double tension now.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As the minutes lengthened into an hour, and no word of Tad's mission had been received, the defenders began to grow restless.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading They were under a double tension now.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Mr. Marquand was pacing up and down the floor.
volleynounUS /ˈvɑːli/
rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
wastedadjectiveUS /ˈweɪstɪd/
serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were under a double tension now.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading CONCLUSION The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.
wordnounUS /wɜːrd/
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading As the minutes lengthened into an hour, and no word of Tad's mission had been received, the defenders began to grow restless.
