used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was so dark that he could see but a little way in the woods.
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand, he paused and listened, thinking that if any enemies were at hand, they would be sure to betray themselves by attempting to advance.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand, he paused and listened, thinking that if any enemies were at hand, they would be sure to betray themselves by attempting to advance.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SOFT AND LOW.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand, he paused and listened, thinking that if any enemies were at hand, they would be sure to betray themselves by attempting to advance.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the mention of suspected danger, Clinton sprang up and moved in the direction whence he supposed it came, though he heard nothing of it himself.
attemptingverbUS /əˈtemptɪŋ/
-ing form of “attempt” — make an effort or attempt
From this reading After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand, he paused and listened, thinking that if any enemies were at hand, they would be sure to betray themselves by attempting to advance.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand, he paused and listened, thinking that if any enemies were at hand, they would be sure to betray themselves by attempting to advance.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But the stillness remained unbroken, and he suspected that Rosa had been mistaken.
betrayverbUS /bɪˈtreɪ/
reveal unintentionally
From this reading After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand, he paused and listened, thinking that if any enemies were at hand, they would be sure to betray themselves by attempting to advance.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was so dark that he could see but a little way in the woods.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand, he paused and listened, thinking that if any enemies were at hand, they would be sure to betray themselves by attempting to advance.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading At the mention of suspected danger, Clinton sprang up and moved in the direction whence he supposed it came, though he heard nothing of it himself.
ClintonnounUS /ˈklɪntən/
wife of President Clinton and later a woman member of the United States Senate (1947-)
From this reading At the mention of suspected danger, Clinton sprang up and moved in the direction whence he supposed it came, though he heard nothing of it himself.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was so dark that he could see but a little way in the woods.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading At the mention of suspected danger, Clinton sprang up and moved in the direction whence he supposed it came, though he heard nothing of it himself.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It was so dark that he could see but a little way in the woods.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading At the mention of suspected danger, Clinton sprang up and moved in the direction whence he supposed it came, though he heard nothing of it himself.
plural of “enemy” — an opposing military force
From this reading After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand, he paused and listened, thinking that if any enemies were at hand, they would be sure to betray themselves by attempting to advance.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand, he paused and listened, thinking that if any enemies were at hand, they would be sure to betray themselves by attempting to advance.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But the stillness remained unbroken, and he suspected that Rosa had been mistaken.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand, he paused and listened, thinking that if any enemies were at hand, they would be sure to betray themselves by attempting to advance.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At the mention of suspected danger, Clinton sprang up and moved in the direction whence he supposed it came, though he heard nothing of it himself.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading At the mention of suspected danger, Clinton sprang up and moved in the direction whence he supposed it came, though he heard nothing of it himself.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading At the mention of suspected danger, Clinton sprang up and moved in the direction whence he supposed it came, though he heard nothing of it himself.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand, he paused and listened, thinking that if any enemies were at hand, they would be sure to betray themselves by attempting to advance.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At the mention of suspected danger, Clinton sprang up and moved in the direction whence he supposed it came, though he heard nothing of it himself.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At the mention of suspected danger, Clinton sprang up and moved in the direction whence he supposed it came, though he heard nothing of it himself.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand, he paused and listened, thinking that if any enemies were at hand, they would be sure to betray themselves by attempting to advance.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was so dark that he could see but a little way in the woods.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading SOFT AND LOW.
make reference to
From this reading At the mention of suspected danger, Clinton sprang up and moved in the direction whence he supposed it came, though he heard nothing of it himself.
wrong in e.g. opinion or judgment
From this reading But the stillness remained unbroken, and he suspected that Rosa had been mistaken.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading At the mention of suspected danger, Clinton sprang up and moved in the direction whence he supposed it came, though he heard nothing of it himself.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading At the mention of suspected danger, Clinton sprang up and moved in the direction whence he supposed it came, though he heard nothing of it himself.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the mention of suspected danger, Clinton sprang up and moved in the direction whence he supposed it came, though he heard nothing of it himself.
pacesnounUS /ˈpeɪsɪz/
plural of “pace” — the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand, he paused and listened, thinking that if any enemies were at hand, they would be sure to betray themselves by attempting to advance.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand, he paused and listened, thinking that if any enemies were at hand, they would be sure to betray themselves by attempting to advance.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading But the stillness remained unbroken, and he suspected that Rosa had been mistaken.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand, he paused and listened, thinking that if any enemies were at hand, they would be sure to betray themselves by attempting to advance.
RosanounUS /ˈroʊzə/
large genus of erect or climbing prickly shrubs including roses
From this reading But the stillness remained unbroken, and he suspected that Rosa had been mistaken.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It was so dark that he could see but a little way in the woods.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was so dark that he could see but a little way in the woods.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading SOFT AND LOW.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading At the mention of suspected danger, Clinton sprang up and moved in the direction whence he supposed it came, though he heard nothing of it himself.
stealingnounUS /ˈstiːlɪŋ/
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
From this reading After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand, he paused and listened, thinking that if any enemies were at hand, they would be sure to betray themselves by attempting to advance.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading But the stillness remained unbroken, and he suspected that Rosa had been mistaken.
required or under orders
From this reading At the mention of suspected danger, Clinton sprang up and moved in the direction whence he supposed it came, though he heard nothing of it himself.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand, he paused and listened, thinking that if any enemies were at hand, they would be sure to betray themselves by attempting to advance.
believed likely
From this reading At the mention of suspected danger, Clinton sprang up and moved in the direction whence he supposed it came, though he heard nothing of it himself.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was so dark that he could see but a little way in the woods.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At the mention of suspected danger, Clinton sprang up and moved in the direction whence he supposed it came, though he heard nothing of it himself.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand, he paused and listened, thinking that if any enemies were at hand, they would be sure to betray themselves by attempting to advance.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand, he paused and listened, thinking that if any enemies were at hand, they would be sure to betray themselves by attempting to advance.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand, he paused and listened, thinking that if any enemies were at hand, they would be sure to betray themselves by attempting to advance.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading At the mention of suspected danger, Clinton sprang up and moved in the direction whence he supposed it came, though he heard nothing of it himself.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand, he paused and listened, thinking that if any enemies were at hand, they would be sure to betray themselves by attempting to advance.
unbrokenadjectiveUS /ənˈbroʊkən/
marked by continuous or uninterrupted extension in space or time or sequence
From this reading But the stillness remained unbroken, and he suspected that Rosa had been mistaken.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading At the mention of suspected danger, Clinton sprang up and moved in the direction whence he supposed it came, though he heard nothing of it himself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was so dark that he could see but a little way in the woods.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It was so dark that he could see but a little way in the woods.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand, he paused and listened, thinking that if any enemies were at hand, they would be sure to betray themselves by attempting to advance.
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading At the mention of suspected danger, Clinton sprang up and moved in the direction whence he supposed it came, though he heard nothing of it himself.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading It was so dark that he could see but a little way in the woods.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand, he paused and listened, thinking that if any enemies were at hand, they would be sure to betray themselves by attempting to advance.
