Chapter III · A Devastated Home

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

From this reading A puff of smoke floated upward from the bush whence the shot had come, as the three fugitives stretched themselves prone behind the trunk of a large fallen tree.

later than; following

From this reading After many moments of waiting Deerfoot cautiously raised his head.

anew

From this reading He dropped back again quickly, however, as a rifle ball splintered the bark scarcely ten inches from him.

(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 All three immediately dropped on their hands and knees.

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

From this reading All three immediately dropped on their hands and knees.

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

From this reading A puff of smoke floated upward from the bush whence the shot had come, as the three fugitives stretched themselves prone behind the trunk of a large fallen tree.

expected hopefully

From this reading Rifles in hand they scurried for the nearest shelter and awaited developments.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading He dropped back again quickly, however, as a rifle ball splintered the bark scarcely ten inches from him.

round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games

From this reading He dropped back again quickly, however, as a rifle ball splintered the bark scarcely ten inches from him.

tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants

From this reading He dropped back again quickly, however, as a rifle ball splintered the bark scarcely ten inches from him.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading A puff of smoke floated upward from the bush whence the shot had come, as the three fugitives stretched themselves prone behind the trunk of a large fallen tree.

a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading A puff of smoke floated upward from the bush whence the shot had come, as the three fugitives stretched themselves prone behind the trunk of a large fallen tree.

as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact

From this reading After many moments of waiting Deerfoot cautiously raised his head.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading A puff of smoke floated upward from the bush whence the shot had come, as the three fugitives stretched themselves prone behind the trunk of a large fallen tree.

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

From this reading After many moments of waiting Deerfoot cautiously raised his head.

plural of “development” — act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining

From this reading Rifles in hand they scurried for the nearest shelter and awaited developments.

inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground

From this reading All three immediately dropped on their hands and knees.

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading A puff of smoke floated upward from the bush whence the shot had come, as the three fugitives stretched themselves prone behind the trunk of a large fallen tree.

past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading A puff of smoke floated upward from the bush whence the shot had come, as the three fugitives stretched themselves prone behind the trunk of a large fallen tree.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Rifles in hand they scurried for the nearest shelter and awaited developments.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A puff of smoke floated upward from the bush whence the shot had come, as the three fugitives stretched themselves prone behind the trunk of a large fallen tree.

plural of “fugitive” — someone who flees from an uncongenial situation

From this reading A puff of smoke floated upward from the bush whence the shot had come, as the three fugitives stretched themselves prone behind the trunk of a large fallen tree.

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

From this reading A puff of smoke floated upward from the bush whence the shot had come, as the three fugitives stretched themselves prone behind the trunk of a large fallen tree.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Rifles in hand they scurried for the nearest shelter and awaited developments.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading All three immediately dropped on their hands and knees.

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

From this reading He dropped back again quickly, however, as a rifle ball splintered the bark scarcely ten inches from him.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading After many moments of waiting Deerfoot cautiously raised his head.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He dropped back again quickly, however, as a rifle ball splintered the bark scarcely ten inches from him.

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

From this reading After many moments of waiting Deerfoot cautiously raised his head.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading He dropped back again quickly, however, as a rifle ball splintered the bark scarcely ten inches from him.

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

From this reading All three immediately dropped on their hands and knees.

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

From this reading Rifles in hand they scurried for the nearest shelter and awaited developments.

plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot

From this reading He dropped back again quickly, however, as a rifle ball splintered the bark scarcely ten inches from him.

plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella

From this reading All three immediately dropped on their hands and knees.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading A puff of smoke floated upward from the bush whence the shot had come, as the three fugitives stretched themselves prone behind the trunk of a large fallen tree.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading After many moments of waiting Deerfoot cautiously raised his head.

plural of “moment” — a particular point in time

From this reading After many moments of waiting Deerfoot cautiously raised his head.

(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance

From this reading Rifles in hand they scurried for the nearest shelter and awaited developments.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A puff of smoke floated upward from the bush whence the shot had come, as the three fugitives stretched themselves prone behind the trunk of a large fallen tree.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading All three immediately dropped on their hands and knees.

having a tendency (to); often used in combination

From this reading A puff of smoke floated upward from the bush whence the shot had come, as the three fugitives stretched themselves prone behind the trunk of a large fallen tree.

smoke and exhale strongly

From this reading A puff of smoke floated upward from the bush whence the shot had come, as the three fugitives stretched themselves prone behind the trunk of a large fallen tree.

with speed

From this reading He dropped back again quickly, however, as a rifle ball splintered the bark scarcely ten inches from him.

located or moved above the surround or above the normal position

From this reading After many moments of waiting Deerfoot cautiously raised his head.

steal goods; take as spoils

From this reading He dropped back again quickly, however, as a rifle ball splintered the bark scarcely ten inches from him.

plural of “rifle” — a shoulder firearm with a long barrel and a rifled bore

From this reading Rifles in hand they scurried for the nearest shelter and awaited developments.

only a very short time before

From this reading He dropped back again quickly, however, as a rifle ball splintered the bark scarcely ten inches from him.

inflected form of “scurry” — to move about or proceed hurriedly

From this reading Rifles in hand they scurried for the nearest shelter and awaited developments.

a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger

From this reading Rifles in hand they scurried for the nearest shelter and awaited developments.

the act of firing a projectile

From this reading A puff of smoke floated upward from the bush whence the shot had come, as the three fugitives stretched themselves prone behind the trunk of a large fallen tree.

a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas

From this reading A puff of smoke floated upward from the bush whence the shot had come, as the three fugitives stretched themselves prone behind the trunk of a large fallen tree.

past form of “splinter” — withdraw from an organization or communion

From this reading He dropped back again quickly, however, as a rifle ball splintered the bark scarcely ten inches from him.

(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching

From this reading A puff of smoke floated upward from the bush whence the shot had come, as the three fugitives stretched themselves prone behind the trunk of a large fallen tree.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading He dropped back again quickly, however, as a rifle ball splintered the bark scarcely ten inches from him.

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

From this reading Rifles in hand they scurried for the nearest shelter and awaited developments.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading All three immediately dropped on their hands and knees.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading A puff of smoke floated upward from the bush whence the shot had come, as the three fugitives stretched themselves prone behind the trunk of a large fallen tree.

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

From this reading Rifles in hand they scurried for the nearest shelter and awaited developments.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading All three immediately dropped on their hands and knees.

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading A puff of smoke floated upward from the bush whence the shot had come, as the three fugitives stretched themselves prone behind the trunk of a large fallen tree.

the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber

From this reading A puff of smoke floated upward from the bush whence the shot had come, as the three fugitives stretched themselves prone behind the trunk of a large fallen tree.

directed up

From this reading A puff of smoke floated upward from the bush whence the shot had come, as the three fugitives stretched themselves prone behind the trunk of a large fallen tree.

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading After many moments of waiting Deerfoot cautiously raised his head.

an old word meaning “from where”

From this reading A puff of smoke floated upward from the bush whence the shot had come, as the three fugitives stretched themselves prone behind the trunk of a large fallen tree.