used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A NIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN ROAD They drove on for a long interval in silence.
absentlyadverb
in an absentminded or preoccupied manner
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading It was as though she felt the iron out-cropping in this man and shrank from him baffled, almost afraid.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It was as though she felt the iron out-cropping in this man and shrank from him baffled, almost afraid.
aloofadjectiveUS /əˈluːf/
remote in manner
From this reading Once, when the woman beside him ventured to look in his face, she drew herself a little more erect and aloof.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She must have seen the futility of her effort to defend her friend, and the fire that had flashed in her eyes had as quickly died.
bafflednounUS /ˈbæfəld/
people who are frustrated and perplexed
From this reading It was as though she felt the iron out-cropping in this man and shrank from him baffled, almost afraid.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Once, when the woman beside him ventured to look in his face, she drew herself a little more erect and aloof.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
coltsnounUS /koʊlts/
plural of “colt” — a young male horse under the age of four
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
argue or speak in defense of
From this reading She must have seen the futility of her effort to defend her friend, and the fire that had flashed in her eyes had as quickly died.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading She must have seen the futility of her effort to defend her friend, and the fire that had flashed in her eyes had as quickly died.
divideverbUS /dɪˈvaɪd/
separate into parts or portions
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
down-grade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading Once, when the woman beside him ventured to look in his face, she drew herself a little more erect and aloof.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading A NIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN ROAD They drove on for a long interval in silence.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading She must have seen the futility of her effort to defend her friend, and the fire that had flashed in her eyes had as quickly died.
erectverbUS /ɪˈrekt/
construct, build, or erect
From this reading Once, when the woman beside him ventured to look in his face, she drew herself a little more erect and aloof.
divisible by two
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She must have seen the futility of her effort to defend her friend, and the fire that had flashed in her eyes had as quickly died.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Once, when the woman beside him ventured to look in his face, she drew herself a little more erect and aloof.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading It was as though she felt the iron out-cropping in this man and shrank from him baffled, almost afraid.
start firing a weapon
From this reading She must have seen the futility of her effort to defend her friend, and the fire that had flashed in her eyes had as quickly died.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading She must have seen the futility of her effort to defend her friend, and the fire that had flashed in her eyes had as quickly died.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A NIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN ROAD They drove on for a long interval in silence.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading She must have seen the futility of her effort to defend her friend, and the fire that had flashed in her eyes had as quickly died.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was as though she felt the iron out-cropping in this man and shrank from him baffled, almost afraid.
futilitynounUS /fjuːˈtɪləti/
uselessness as a consequence of having no practical result
From this reading She must have seen the futility of her effort to defend her friend, and the fire that had flashed in her eyes had as quickly died.
a long fixed look
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She must have seen the futility of her effort to defend her friend, and the fire that had flashed in her eyes had as quickly died.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She must have seen the futility of her effort to defend her friend, and the fire that had flashed in her eyes had as quickly died.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Once, when the woman beside him ventured to look in his face, she drew herself a little more erect and aloof.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Once, when the woman beside him ventured to look in his face, she drew herself a little more erect and aloof.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Once, when the woman beside him ventured to look in his face, she drew herself a little more erect and aloof.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A NIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN ROAD They drove on for a long interval in silence.
intervalnounUS /ˈɪntərvəl/
a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading A NIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN ROAD They drove on for a long interval in silence.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading It was as though she felt the iron out-cropping in this man and shrank from him baffled, almost afraid.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was as though she felt the iron out-cropping in this man and shrank from him baffled, almost afraid.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Once, when the woman beside him ventured to look in his face, she drew herself a little more erect and aloof.
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 A NIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN ROAD They drove on for a long interval in silence.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Once, when the woman beside him ventured to look in his face, she drew herself a little more erect and aloof.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It was as though she felt the iron out-cropping in this man and shrank from him baffled, almost afraid.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Once, when the woman beside him ventured to look in his face, she drew herself a little more erect and aloof.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading A NIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN ROAD They drove on for a long interval in silence.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading She must have seen the futility of her effort to defend her friend, and the fire that had flashed in her eyes had as quickly died.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A NIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN ROAD They drove on for a long interval in silence.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She must have seen the futility of her effort to defend her friend, and the fire that had flashed in her eyes had as quickly died.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A NIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN ROAD They drove on for a long interval in silence.
on one occasion
From this reading Once, when the woman beside him ventured to look in his face, she drew herself a little more erect and aloof.
out-cropping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was as though she felt the iron out-cropping in this man and shrank from him baffled, almost afraid.
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
with speed
From this reading She must have seen the futility of her effort to defend her friend, and the fire that had flashed in her eyes had as quickly died.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading A NIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN ROAD They drove on for a long interval in silence.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She must have seen the futility of her effort to defend her friend, and the fire that had flashed in her eyes had as quickly died.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Once, when the woman beside him ventured to look in his face, she drew herself a little more erect and aloof.
shrankverbUS /ʃræŋk/
inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading It was as though she felt the iron out-cropping in this man and shrank from him baffled, almost afraid.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading A NIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN ROAD They drove on for a long interval in silence.
soberedverbUS /ˈsoʊbərd/
past form of “sober” — cause to become sober
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
not in physical motion
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A NIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN ROAD They drove on for a long interval in silence.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A NIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN ROAD They drove on for a long interval in silence.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was as though she felt the iron out-cropping in this man and shrank from him baffled, almost afraid.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It was as though she felt the iron out-cropping in this man and shrank from him baffled, almost afraid.
Tisdale's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
uncompromisingadjectiveUS /ənˈkɑːmprəmaɪzɪŋ/
not making concessions
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
past form of “venture” — proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers
From this reading Once, when the woman beside him ventured to look in his face, she drew herself a little more erect and aloof.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was as though she felt the iron out-cropping in this man and shrank from him baffled, almost afraid.
at the time that
From this reading Once, when the woman beside him ventured to look in his face, she drew herself a little more erect and aloof.
windingadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪndɪŋ/
marked by repeated turns and bends
From this reading The colts, sobered by the sharp pull to the divide, kept an even pace now that they had struck the down-grade, and Tisdale's gaze, hard still, uncompromising, remained fixed absently on the winding road.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Once, when the woman beside him ventured to look in his face, she drew herself a little more erect and aloof.
