used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A RUSE DE GUERRE.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading But he was too much accustomed to the life of the prairies not to suspect that several of his enemies would follow his track at a distance.
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After his strange proposal to the hunters, the leader of the pirates retook, at his best speed, the road to his den.
(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 Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading After his strange proposal to the hunters, the leader of the pirates retook, at his best speed, the road to his den.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading After his strange proposal to the hunters, the leader of the pirates retook, at his best speed, the road to his den.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he was too much accustomed to the life of the prairies not to suspect that several of his enemies would follow his track at a distance.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading A RUSE DE GUERRE.
dennounUS /den/
the habitation of wild animals
From this reading After his strange proposal to the hunters, the leader of the pirates retook, at his best speed, the road to his den.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading But he was too much accustomed to the life of the prairies not to suspect that several of his enemies would follow his track at a distance.
détours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
plural of “enemy” — an opposing military force
From this reading But he was too much accustomed to the life of the prairies not to suspect that several of his enemies would follow his track at a distance.
excessivelyadverbUS /ɪkˈsesɪvli/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading These numerous precautions had excessively retarded his journey.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading But he was too much accustomed to the life of the prairies not to suspect that several of his enemies would follow his track at a distance.
furnishverbUS /ˈfɜːrnɪʃ/
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
the act of departing
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
GUERRE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A RUSE DE GUERRE.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But he was too much accustomed to the life of the prairies not to suspect that several of his enemies would follow his track at a distance.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading After his strange proposal to the hunters, the leader of the pirates retook, at his best speed, the road to his den.
huntersnounUS /ˈhʌntərz/
plural of “hunter” — someone who hunts game
From this reading After his strange proposal to the hunters, the leader of the pirates retook, at his best speed, the road to his den.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
incessantlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈsesəntli/
with unflagging resolve
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
inventiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈventɪv/
(used of persons or artifacts) marked by independence and creativity in thought or action
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading These numerous precautions had excessively retarded his journey.
a person who rules or guides or inspires others
From this reading After his strange proposal to the hunters, the leader of the pirates retook, at his best speed, the road to his den.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading But he was too much accustomed to the life of the prairies not to suspect that several of his enemies would follow his track at a distance.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
misleadverbUS /mɪˈsliːd/
lead someone in the wrong direction or give someone wrong directions
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading But he was too much accustomed to the life of the prairies not to suspect that several of his enemies would follow his track at a distance.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But he was too much accustomed to the life of the prairies not to suspect that several of his enemies would follow his track at a distance.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
amounting to a large indefinite number
From this reading These numerous precautions had excessively retarded his journey.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading After his strange proposal to the hunters, the leader of the pirates retook, at his best speed, the road to his den.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
piratesnounUS /ˈpaɪrəts/
plural of “pirate” — someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own
From this reading After his strange proposal to the hunters, the leader of the pirates retook, at his best speed, the road to his den.
a customary way of operation or behavior
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
prairiesnounUS /ˈpreɪriz/
plural of “prairie” — a treeless grassy plain
From this reading But he was too much accustomed to the life of the prairies not to suspect that several of his enemies would follow his track at a distance.
precautionsnounUS /priˈkɔːʃənz/
plural of “precaution” — a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.
From this reading These numerous precautions had excessively retarded his journey.
proposalnounUS /prəˈpoʊzəl/
something proposed (such as a plan or assumption)
From this reading After his strange proposal to the hunters, the leader of the pirates retook, at his best speed, the road to his den.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
retardedadjectiveUS /rɪˈtɑːrdɪd/
relatively slow in mental or emotional or physical development
From this reading These numerous precautions had excessively retarded his journey.
retookverbUS /riˈtʊk/
inflected form of “retake” — take back by force, as after a battle
From this reading After his strange proposal to the hunters, the leader of the pirates retook, at his best speed, the road to his den.
retracingverbUS /riˈtreɪsɪŋ/
-ing form of “retrace” — to go back over again
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading After his strange proposal to the hunters, the leader of the pirates retook, at his best speed, the road to his den.
RUSEnounUS /ruːz/
a deceptive maneuver (especially to avoid capture)
From this reading A RUSE DE GUERRE.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading But he was too much accustomed to the life of the prairies not to suspect that several of his enemies would follow his track at a distance.
move hurridly
From this reading After his strange proposal to the hunters, the leader of the pirates retook, at his best speed, the road to his den.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading After his strange proposal to the hunters, the leader of the pirates retook, at his best speed, the road to his den.
imagine to be the case or true or probable
From this reading But he was too much accustomed to the life of the prairies not to suspect that several of his enemies would follow his track at a distance.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But he was too much accustomed to the life of the prairies not to suspect that several of his enemies would follow his track at a distance.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After his strange proposal to the hunters, the leader of the pirates retook, at his best speed, the road to his den.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These numerous precautions had excessively retarded his journey.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After his strange proposal to the hunters, the leader of the pirates retook, at his best speed, the road to his den.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading But he was too much accustomed to the life of the prairies not to suspect that several of his enemies would follow his track at a distance.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading But he was too much accustomed to the life of the prairies not to suspect that several of his enemies would follow his track at a distance.
tricksnounUS /trɪks/
plural of “trick” — a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
vulgarlyadverb
in a smutty manner
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But he was too much accustomed to the life of the prairies not to suspect that several of his enemies would follow his track at a distance.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But he was too much accustomed to the life of the prairies not to suspect that several of his enemies would follow his track at a distance.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Therefore, he had put in practice, to mislead them, all the tricks which his inventive mind could furnish with him, making _détours_ without number, retracing incessantly his steps, or, as it is vulgarly said, going back ten yards to advance one.
