used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
appallingnounUS /əˈpɔːlɪŋ/
an experience that appalls
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
assegainoun
the slender spear of the Bantu-speaking people of Africa
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
bunchedverbUS /bʌntʃt/
past form of “bunch” — form into a bunch
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
of a particle or body or system; having a net amount of positive or negative electric charge
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
the first light of day
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
recognizable; marked
From this reading This was the encircling manoeuvre, he decided.
denseadjectiveUS /dens/
permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
detectedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtektəd/
perceived or discerned
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
detonationnounUS /ˌdetəˈneɪʃən/
a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
drownedverbUS /draʊnd/
past form of “drown” — cover completely or make imperceptible
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
earthworknounUS /ˈɜːrθwɜːrk/
an earthen rampart
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
encirclingadjectiveUS /enˈsɜːrkəlɪŋ/
being all around the edges; enclosing
From this reading This was the encircling manoeuvre, he decided.
entrenchmentnounUS /enˈtrentʃmənt/
an entrenched fortification; a position protected by trenches
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
flittingverbUS /ˈflɪtɪŋ/
inflected form of “flit” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading And then he let go.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This was the encircling manoeuvre, he decided.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Hyland was sighting his piece.
ten 10s
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
Hyland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hyland was sighting his piece.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading And then he let go.
lighteningnounUS /ˈlaɪtənɪŋ/
descent of the uterus into the pelvic cavity that occurs late in pregnancy; the fetus is said to have dropped
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
manoeuvrenoun
a plan for attaining a particular goal
From this reading This was the encircling manoeuvre, he decided.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
mimosanounUS /mɪˈmoʊsə/
evergreen Australasian tree having white or silvery bark and young leaves and yellow flowers
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading Hyland was sighting his piece.
make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
shieldnounUS /ʃiːld/
a protective covering or structure
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
sightingnounUS /ˈsaɪtɪŋ/
the act of observing
From this reading Hyland was sighting his piece.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
stealthilyadverb
in a stealthy manner
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
successive (without a break)
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
strickenadjectiveUS /ˈstrɪkən/
grievously affected especially by disease
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading And then he let go.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was the encircling manoeuvre, he decided.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
a vivid mental image
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Hyland was sighting his piece.
wavingnounUS /ˈweɪvɪŋ/
the act of signaling by a movement of the hand
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
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 In the fast lightening dawn his keen vision had detected a tongue of dark figures flitting stealthily out of the mimosa bushes some couple of hundred yards away--and striking out a line which should bring them round to the back of the entrenchment.
yellnounUS /jel/
a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading But the detonation, and the wild yell of more than one stricken savage-- for he had fired into them bunched up--was drowned by an appalling roar, as a dense mass sprang up among the low bushes on that front, and, waving shield and assegai, charged straight for the earthwork.
