Chapter II · Chapter 2

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading They had been captured by Urrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans were rebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unless rescue came.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

a former copper coin of Pakistan and India

From this reading They had been captured by Urrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans were rebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unless rescue came.

weapons considered collectively

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading They had been captured by Urrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans were rebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unless rescue came.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading They had been captured by Urrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans were rebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unless rescue came.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading They had been captured by Urrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans were rebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unless rescue came.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.

From this reading His blood, hot at first, now chilled in his veins.

confined by bonds

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading They had been captured by Urrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans were rebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unless rescue came.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading They had been captured by Urrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans were rebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unless rescue came.

plural of “captive” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

past form of “capture” — succeed in representing or expressing something intangible

From this reading They had been captured by Urrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans were rebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unless rescue came.

past form of “chill” — depress or discourage

From this reading His blood, hot at first, now chilled in his veins.

fixed or established especially by order or command

From this reading They had been captured by Urrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans were rebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unless rescue came.

pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading They had been captured by Urrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans were rebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unless rescue came.

lacking in light; not bright or harsh

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "What shall we do?" he whispered.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

put to death as punishment

From this reading They had been captured by Urrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans were rebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unless rescue came.

opinion or judgment

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning

From this reading His blood, hot at first, now chilled in his veins.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading His blood, hot at first, now chilled in his veins.

as a matter of instinct

From this reading They were prisoners and he knew instinctively that they were Texans.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading They were prisoners and he knew instinctively that they were Texans.

departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

the force of workers available

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

being perceived or observed

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading His blood, hot at first, now chilled in his veins.

a large spotted feline of tropical America similar to the leopard; in some classifications considered a member of the genus Felis

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

having a point

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war

From this reading They were prisoners and he knew instinctively that they were Texans.

search without warning, make a sudden surprise attack on

From this reading They had been captured by Urrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans were rebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unless rescue came.

plural of “rebel” — “Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms

From this reading They had been captured by Urrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans were rebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unless rescue came.

free from harm or evil

From this reading They had been captured by Urrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans were rebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unless rescue came.

the legendary patron saint of children; an imaginary being who is thought to bring presents to children at Christmas

From this reading They had been captured by Urrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans were rebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unless rescue came.

cut with a saw

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading "What shall we do?" he whispered.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading They had been captured by Urrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans were rebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unless rescue came.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading They had been captured by Urrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans were rebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unless rescue came.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading They had been captured by Urrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans were rebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unless rescue came.

plural of “texan” — a native or resident of Texas

From this reading They were prisoners and he knew instinctively that they were Texans.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading They were prisoners and he knew instinctively that they were Texans.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They were prisoners and he knew instinctively that they were Texans.

in a tight or constricted manner

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

except if; if not

From this reading They had been captured by Urrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans were rebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unless rescue came.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They had been captured by Urrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans were rebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unless rescue came.

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

plural of “vein” — a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart

From this reading His blood, hot at first, now chilled in his veins.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "What shall we do?" he whispered.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading THE CAPTIVES Ned had not noticed at first, but, since his eyes were growing used to the dim light, and since the Panther had pointed the way, he saw a dozen men, arms bound tightly behind them, leaning against the trees.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "What shall we do?" he whispered.

at the time that

From this reading They had been captured by Urrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans were rebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unless rescue came.

spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords

From this reading "What shall we do?" he whispered.

which person or people

From this reading They had been captured by Urrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans were rebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unless rescue came.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading They had been captured by Urrea in a raid, and as Santa Anna had decreed that all Texans were rebels who should be executed when taken, they would surely die, unless rescue came.