used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Almost an hour's journey below them the creak of wheel, the sound of hoof, came faint but nearer.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Almost an hour's journey below them the creak of wheel, the sound of hoof, came faint but nearer.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They looked at one another in apprehensive silence, and went softly out to that side of the house nearest the road.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading They looked at one another in apprehensive silence, and went softly out to that side of the house nearest the road.
apprehensiveadjectiveUS /ˌæprɪˈhensɪv/
quick to understand
From this reading They looked at one another in apprehensive silence, and went softly out to that side of the house nearest the road.
move towards
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
ascendingadjectiveUS /əˈsendɪŋ/
moving or going or growing upward
From this reading The two men who were keeping vigil became certain that travelers were ascending the steep zig-zags of Deer.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They looked at one another in apprehensive silence, and went softly out to that side of the house nearest the road.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The two men who were keeping vigil became certain that travelers were ascending the steep zig-zags of Deer.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Almost an hour's journey below them the creak of wheel, the sound of hoof, came faint but nearer.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Almost an hour's journey below them the creak of wheel, the sound of hoof, came faint but nearer.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading The two men who were keeping vigil became certain that travelers were ascending the steep zig-zags of Deer.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading The young moon had set, and there was cloud overhead.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
creakverbUS /kriːk/
make a high-pitched, screeching noise
From this reading Almost an hour's journey below them the creak of wheel, the sound of hoof, came faint but nearer.
distinguished from Bovidae by the male's having solid deciduous antlers
From this reading The two men who were keeping vigil became certain that travelers were ascending the steep zig-zags of Deer.
enthrallingadjective
capturing interest as if by a spell
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading Almost an hour's journey below them the creak of wheel, the sound of hoof, came faint but nearer.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The young moon had set, and there was cloud overhead.
hoofnounUS /huːf/
the foot of an ungulate mammal
From this reading Almost an hour's journey below them the creak of wheel, the sound of hoof, came faint but nearer.
hour'snounUS /ˈaʊərz/
possessive form of “hour” — a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Almost an hour's journey below them the creak of wheel, the sound of hoof, came faint but nearer.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading They looked at one another in apprehensive silence, and went softly out to that side of the house nearest the road.
temporary military shelter
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading Almost an hour's journey below them the creak of wheel, the sound of hoof, came faint but nearer.
conformity or harmony
From this reading The two men who were keeping vigil became certain that travelers were ascending the steep zig-zags of Deer.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading They looked at one another in apprehensive silence, and went softly out to that side of the house nearest the road.
the force of workers available
From this reading The two men who were keeping vigil became certain that travelers were ascending the steep zig-zags of Deer.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading The young moon had set, and there was cloud overhead.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading Almost an hour's journey below them the creak of wheel, the sound of hoof, came faint but nearer.
(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance
From this reading They looked at one another in apprehensive silence, and went softly out to that side of the house nearest the road.
not any; not one
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They looked at one another in apprehensive silence, and went softly out to that side of the house nearest the road.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading They looked at one another in apprehensive silence, and went softly out to that side of the house nearest the road.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading The young moon had set, and there was cloud overhead.
by chance
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading They looked at one another in apprehensive silence, and went softly out to that side of the house nearest the road.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The young moon had set, and there was cloud overhead.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading They looked at one another in apprehensive silence, and went softly out to that side of the house nearest the road.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading They looked at one another in apprehensive silence, and went softly out to that side of the house nearest the road.
with low volume
From this reading They looked at one another in apprehensive silence, and went softly out to that side of the house nearest the road.
a person, without saying who
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
having a sharp inclination
From this reading The two men who were keeping vigil became certain that travelers were ascending the steep zig-zags of Deer.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The two men who were keeping vigil became certain that travelers were ascending the steep zig-zags of Deer.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Almost an hour's journey below them the creak of wheel, the sound of hoof, came faint but nearer.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They looked at one another in apprehensive silence, and went softly out to that side of the house nearest the road.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
travelersnounUS /ˈtrævələrz/
plural of “traveler” — a person who changes location
From this reading The two men who were keeping vigil became certain that travelers were ascending the steep zig-zags of Deer.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two men who were keeping vigil became certain that travelers were ascending the steep zig-zags of Deer.
unlooked-foradjective
not anticipated
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
vigilnounUS /ˈvɪdʒəl/
a period of sleeplessness
From this reading The two men who were keeping vigil became certain that travelers were ascending the steep zig-zags of Deer.
a vivid mental image
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The young moon had set, and there was cloud overhead.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading They looked at one another in apprehensive silence, and went softly out to that side of the house nearest the road.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The two men who were keeping vigil became certain that travelers were ascending the steep zig-zags of Deer.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading Almost an hour's journey below them the creak of wheel, the sound of hoof, came faint but nearer.
which person or people
From this reading THE VISION IN THE HUT There is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The young moon had set, and there was cloud overhead.
zig-zags
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two men who were keeping vigil became certain that travelers were ascending the steep zig-zags of Deer.
