used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The buildings were dark and apparently deserted, until the blast of a shotgun ripped the night and Jake Harper’s voice accosted the arrivals boomingly.
accostedverbUS /əˈkɑːstɪd/
past form of “accost” — speak to someone
From this reading The buildings were dark and apparently deserted, until the blast of a shotgun ripped the night and Jake Harper’s voice accosted the arrivals boomingly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The buildings were dark and apparently deserted, until the blast of a shotgun ripped the night and Jake Harper’s voice accosted the arrivals boomingly.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He did not see any one, in fact, nor did the dozen riders behind him.
from appearances alone
From this reading The buildings were dark and apparently deserted, until the blast of a shotgun ripped the night and Jake Harper’s voice accosted the arrivals boomingly.
arrivalsnounUS /ərˈaɪvəlz/
plural of “arrival” — accomplishment of an objective
From this reading The buildings were dark and apparently deserted, until the blast of a shotgun ripped the night and Jake Harper’s voice accosted the arrivals boomingly.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading BUCK LAYS PLANS Templeton Buck did not particularly enjoy his call at the Circle Bar, nor did he find its occupants very slow in their reception.
a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter
From this reading BUCK LAYS PLANS Templeton Buck did not particularly enjoy his call at the Circle Bar, nor did he find its occupants very slow in their reception.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Harper’s words made them more nervous, when it became evident that Jake had witnessed the shooting on the road and was perfectly willing to testify to the fact.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He did not see any one, in fact, nor did the dozen riders behind him.
blastverbUS /blæst/
make a strident sound
From this reading The buildings were dark and apparently deserted, until the blast of a shotgun ripped the night and Jake Harper’s voice accosted the arrivals boomingly.
boomingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The buildings were dark and apparently deserted, until the blast of a shotgun ripped the night and Jake Harper’s voice accosted the arrivals boomingly.
BUCKverbUS /bʌk/
to strive with determination
From this reading BUCK LAYS PLANS Templeton Buck did not particularly enjoy his call at the Circle Bar, nor did he find its occupants very slow in their reception.
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading The buildings were dark and apparently deserted, until the blast of a shotgun ripped the night and Jake Harper’s voice accosted the arrivals boomingly.
bunchedverbUS /bʌntʃt/
past form of “bunch” — form into a bunch
From this reading The ominous darkness, the more ominous silence, held the Running Dog men bunched up and nervous.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading BUCK LAYS PLANS Templeton Buck did not particularly enjoy his call at the Circle Bar, nor did he find its occupants very slow in their reception.
ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading BUCK LAYS PLANS Templeton Buck did not particularly enjoy his call at the Circle Bar, nor did he find its occupants very slow in their reception.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The buildings were dark and apparently deserted, until the blast of a shotgun ripped the night and Jake Harper’s voice accosted the arrivals boomingly.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The ominous darkness, the more ominous silence, held the Running Dog men bunched up and nervous.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading The buildings were dark and apparently deserted, until the blast of a shotgun ripped the night and Jake Harper’s voice accosted the arrivals boomingly.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading BUCK LAYS PLANS Templeton Buck did not particularly enjoy his call at the Circle Bar, nor did he find its occupants very slow in their reception.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading The ominous darkness, the more ominous silence, held the Running Dog men bunched up and nervous.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading He did not see any one, in fact, nor did the dozen riders behind him.
derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading BUCK LAYS PLANS Templeton Buck did not particularly enjoy his call at the Circle Bar, nor did he find its occupants very slow in their reception.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading Harper’s words made them more nervous, when it became evident that Jake had witnessed the shooting on the road and was perfectly willing to testify to the fact.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading He did not see any one, in fact, nor did the dozen riders behind him.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading BUCK LAYS PLANS Templeton Buck did not particularly enjoy his call at the Circle Bar, nor did he find its occupants very slow in their reception.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Harper’s words made them more nervous, when it became evident that Jake had witnessed the shooting on the road and was perfectly willing to testify to the fact.
Harper'snounUS /ˈhɑːrpərz/
possessive form of “harper” — someone who plays the harp
From this reading The buildings were dark and apparently deserted, until the blast of a shotgun ripped the night and Jake Harper’s voice accosted the arrivals boomingly.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading BUCK LAYS PLANS Templeton Buck did not particularly enjoy his call at the Circle Bar, nor did he find its occupants very slow in their reception.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The ominous darkness, the more ominous silence, held the Running Dog men bunched up and nervous.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He did not see any one, in fact, nor did the dozen riders behind him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading BUCK LAYS PLANS Templeton Buck did not particularly enjoy his call at the Circle Bar, nor did he find its occupants very slow in their reception.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading BUCK LAYS PLANS Templeton Buck did not particularly enjoy his call at the Circle Bar, nor did he find its occupants very slow in their reception.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Harper’s words made them more nervous, when it became evident that Jake had witnessed the shooting on the road and was perfectly willing to testify to the fact.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading BUCK LAYS PLANS Templeton Buck did not particularly enjoy his call at the Circle Bar, nor did he find its occupants very slow in their reception.
Jake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The buildings were dark and apparently deserted, until the blast of a shotgun ripped the night and Jake Harper’s voice accosted the arrivals boomingly.
LAYSnounUS /leɪz/
plural of “lay” — a narrative song with a recurrent refrain
From this reading BUCK LAYS PLANS Templeton Buck did not particularly enjoy his call at the Circle Bar, nor did he find its occupants very slow in their reception.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Harper’s words made them more nervous, when it became evident that Jake had witnessed the shooting on the road and was perfectly willing to testify to the fact.
the force of workers available
From this reading The ominous darkness, the more ominous silence, held the Running Dog men bunched up and nervous.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The ominous darkness, the more ominous silence, held the Running Dog men bunched up and nervous.
easily agitated
From this reading The ominous darkness, the more ominous silence, held the Running Dog men bunched up and nervous.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The buildings were dark and apparently deserted, until the blast of a shotgun ripped the night and Jake Harper’s voice accosted the arrivals boomingly.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading BUCK LAYS PLANS Templeton Buck did not particularly enjoy his call at the Circle Bar, nor did he find its occupants very slow in their reception.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading BUCK LAYS PLANS Templeton Buck did not particularly enjoy his call at the Circle Bar, nor did he find its occupants very slow in their reception.
occupantsnounUS /ˈɑːkjəpənts/
plural of “occupant” — someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there
From this reading BUCK LAYS PLANS Templeton Buck did not particularly enjoy his call at the Circle Bar, nor did he find its occupants very slow in their reception.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The buildings were dark and apparently deserted, until the blast of a shotgun ripped the night and Jake Harper’s voice accosted the arrivals boomingly.
ominousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːmənəs/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading The ominous darkness, the more ominous silence, held the Running Dog men bunched up and nervous.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Harper’s words made them more nervous, when it became evident that Jake had witnessed the shooting on the road and was perfectly willing to testify to the fact.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He did not see any one, in fact, nor did the dozen riders behind him.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading BUCK LAYS PLANS Templeton Buck did not particularly enjoy his call at the Circle Bar, nor did he find its occupants very slow in their reception.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Harper’s words made them more nervous, when it became evident that Jake had witnessed the shooting on the road and was perfectly willing to testify to the fact.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading BUCK LAYS PLANS Templeton Buck did not particularly enjoy his call at the Circle Bar, nor did he find its occupants very slow in their reception.
receptionnounUS /rɪˈsepʃən/
the manner in which something is greeted
From this reading BUCK LAYS PLANS Templeton Buck did not particularly enjoy his call at the Circle Bar, nor did he find its occupants very slow in their reception.
ridersnounUS /ˈraɪdərz/
plural of “rider” — a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)
From this reading He did not see any one, in fact, nor did the dozen riders behind him.
rippedadjectiveUS /rɪpt/
stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading The buildings were dark and apparently deserted, until the blast of a shotgun ripped the night and Jake Harper’s voice accosted the arrivals boomingly.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Harper’s words made them more nervous, when it became evident that Jake had witnessed the shooting on the road and was perfectly willing to testify to the fact.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading The ominous darkness, the more ominous silence, held the Running Dog men bunched up and nervous.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He did not see any one, in fact, nor did the dozen riders behind him.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading Harper’s words made them more nervous, when it became evident that Jake had witnessed the shooting on the road and was perfectly willing to testify to the fact.
shotgunnounUS /ˈʃɑːtɡʌn/
firearm that is a double-barreled smoothbore shoulder weapon for firing shot at short ranges
From this reading The buildings were dark and apparently deserted, until the blast of a shotgun ripped the night and Jake Harper’s voice accosted the arrivals boomingly.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The ominous darkness, the more ominous silence, held the Running Dog men bunched up and nervous.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading BUCK LAYS PLANS Templeton Buck did not particularly enjoy his call at the Circle Bar, nor did he find its occupants very slow in their reception.
Templeton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BUCK LAYS PLANS Templeton Buck did not particularly enjoy his call at the Circle Bar, nor did he find its occupants very slow in their reception.
testifyverbUS /ˈtestəfaɪ/
give testimony in a court of law
From this reading Harper’s words made them more nervous, when it became evident that Jake had witnessed the shooting on the road and was perfectly willing to testify to the fact.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Harper’s words made them more nervous, when it became evident that Jake had witnessed the shooting on the road and was perfectly willing to testify to the fact.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BUCK LAYS PLANS Templeton Buck did not particularly enjoy his call at the Circle Bar, nor did he find its occupants very slow in their reception.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading BUCK LAYS PLANS Templeton Buck did not particularly enjoy his call at the Circle Bar, nor did he find its occupants very slow in their reception.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Harper’s words made them more nervous, when it became evident that Jake had witnessed the shooting on the road and was perfectly willing to testify to the fact.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Harper’s words made them more nervous, when it became evident that Jake had witnessed the shooting on the road and was perfectly willing to testify to the fact.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The buildings were dark and apparently deserted, until the blast of a shotgun ripped the night and Jake Harper’s voice accosted the arrivals boomingly.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The ominous darkness, the more ominous silence, held the Running Dog men bunched up and nervous.
precisely as stated
From this reading BUCK LAYS PLANS Templeton Buck did not particularly enjoy his call at the Circle Bar, nor did he find its occupants very slow in their reception.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The buildings were dark and apparently deserted, until the blast of a shotgun ripped the night and Jake Harper’s voice accosted the arrivals boomingly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Harper’s words made them more nervous, when it became evident that Jake had witnessed the shooting on the road and was perfectly willing to testify to the fact.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The buildings were dark and apparently deserted, until the blast of a shotgun ripped the night and Jake Harper’s voice accosted the arrivals boomingly.
at the time that
From this reading Harper’s words made them more nervous, when it became evident that Jake had witnessed the shooting on the road and was perfectly willing to testify to the fact.
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading Harper’s words made them more nervous, when it became evident that Jake had witnessed the shooting on the road and was perfectly willing to testify to the fact.
witnessedverbUS /ˈwɪtnəst/
past form of “witness” — be a witness to
From this reading Harper’s words made them more nervous, when it became evident that Jake had witnessed the shooting on the road and was perfectly willing to testify to the fact.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Harper’s words made them more nervous, when it became evident that Jake had witnessed the shooting on the road and was perfectly willing to testify to the fact.
