used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was an impotent, crushed look about him as of one nearing the end of his strength.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was an impotent, crushed look about him as of one nearing the end of his strength.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading He drew his breath once or twice sharply through his teeth.
Brigadier-General
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And in the room of the Brigadier-General a man lifted his head from his hands and stared upwards with unseeing, fixed eyes.
the people of Great Britain
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
clatternounUS /ˈklætər/
a rattling noise (often produced by rapid movement)
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
crushedadjectiveUS /krʌʃt/
treated so as to have a permanently wrinkled appearance
From this reading There was an impotent, crushed look about him as of one nearing the end of his strength.
cupsnounUS /kʌps/
plural of “cup” — a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading He drew his breath once or twice sharply through his teeth.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading There was an impotent, crushed look about him as of one nearing the end of his strength.
opinion or judgment
From this reading And in the room of the Brigadier-General a man lifted his head from his hands and stared upwards with unseeing, fixed eyes.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading And in the room of the Brigadier-General a man lifted his head from his hands and stared upwards with unseeing, fixed eyes.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading The lips under the heavy grey moustache moved a little as though they formed soundless words.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading And in the room of the Brigadier-General a man lifted his head from his hands and stared upwards with unseeing, fixed eyes.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He drew his breath once or twice sharply through his teeth.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading And in the room of the Brigadier-General a man lifted his head from his hands and stared upwards with unseeing, fixed eyes.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The lips under the heavy grey moustache moved a little as though they formed soundless words.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There was an impotent, crushed look about him as of one nearing the end of his strength.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading And in the room of the Brigadier-General a man lifted his head from his hands and stared upwards with unseeing, fixed eyes.
impotentadjectiveUS /ˈɪmpətənt/
lacking power or ability
From this reading There was an impotent, crushed look about him as of one nearing the end of his strength.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
irregularadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈreɡjələr/
contrary to rule or accepted order or general practice
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
the sound of laughing
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
held up in the air
From this reading And in the room of the Brigadier-General a man lifted his head from his hands and stared upwards with unseeing, fixed eyes.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading The lips under the heavy grey moustache moved a little as though they formed soundless words.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The lips under the heavy grey moustache moved a little as though they formed soundless words.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading There was an impotent, crushed look about him as of one nearing the end of his strength.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading And in the room of the Brigadier-General a man lifted his head from his hands and stared upwards with unseeing, fixed eyes.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
moustachenounUS /ˈmʌstæʃ/
an unshaved growth of hair on the upper lip
From this reading The lips under the heavy grey moustache moved a little as though they formed soundless words.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading The lips under the heavy grey moustache moved a little as though they formed soundless words.
musketrynoun
musketeers and their muskets collectively
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
nakedadjectiveUS /ˈneɪkəd/
completely unclothed
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
nearingverbUS /ˈnɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “near” — move towards
From this reading There was an impotent, crushed look about him as of one nearing the end of his strength.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
on one occasion
From this reading He drew his breath once or twice sharply through his teeth.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There was an impotent, crushed look about him as of one nearing the end of his strength.
opalnounUS /ˈoʊpəl/
a translucent mineral consisting of hydrated silica of variable color; some varieties are used as gemstones
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He drew his breath once or twice sharply through his teeth.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
rattledadjectiveUS /ˈrætəld/
thrown into a state of agitated confusion; (“rattled” is an informal term)
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
ridgesnounUS /ˈrɪdʒəz/
plural of “ridge” — a long narrow natural elevation or striation
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading And in the room of the Brigadier-General a man lifted his head from his hands and stared upwards with unseeing, fixed eyes.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
in an aggressive manner
From this reading He drew his breath once or twice sharply through his teeth.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
soundlessadjective
marked by absence of sound
From this reading The lips under the heavy grey moustache moved a little as though they formed soundless words.
having great beauty and splendor
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading And in the room of the Brigadier-General a man lifted his head from his hands and stared upwards with unseeing, fixed eyes.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading There was an impotent, crushed look about him as of one nearing the end of his strength.
subduedadjectiveUS /səbˈduːd/
in a softened tone
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading He drew his breath once or twice sharply through his teeth.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was an impotent, crushed look about him as of one nearing the end of his strength.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The lips under the heavy grey moustache moved a little as though they formed soundless words.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The lips under the heavy grey moustache moved a little as though they formed soundless words.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He drew his breath once or twice sharply through his teeth.
tinnounUS /tɪn/
a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
two times
From this reading He drew his breath once or twice sharply through his teeth.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The lips under the heavy grey moustache moved a little as though they formed soundless words.
unseeingadjective
not consciously observing
From this reading And in the room of the Brigadier-General a man lifted his head from his hands and stared upwards with unseeing, fixed eyes.
upwardsadverbUS /ˈʌpwərdz/
spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position
From this reading And in the room of the Brigadier-General a man lifted his head from his hands and stared upwards with unseeing, fixed eyes.
precisely as stated
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
volleynounUS /ˈvɑːli/
rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
warningly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TRUST The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was an impotent, crushed look about him as of one nearing the end of his strength.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And in the room of the Brigadier-General a man lifted his head from his hands and stared upwards with unseeing, fixed eyes.
the words that are spoken
From this reading The lips under the heavy grey moustache moved a little as though they formed soundless words.
