used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Now, when the blanketing night was almost fallen, they sighted the charred ruins that had once been the warehouse of the free-traders, with a sigh of relief.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
(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 SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Now, when the blanketing night was almost fallen, they sighted the charred ruins that had once been the warehouse of the free-traders, with a sigh of relief.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A shriveled female form joined them, and with a clutch at his heart the prisoner recognized old Maria.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
bewilderingverbUS /bɪˈwɪldərɪŋ/
-ing form of “bewilder” — be a mystery or bewildering to
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
blanketingverbUS /ˈblæŋkətɪŋ/
-ing form of “blanket” — cover as if with a blanket
From this reading Now, when the blanketing night was almost fallen, they sighted the charred ruins that had once been the warehouse of the free-traders, with a sigh of relief.
blindingadjectiveUS /ˈblaɪndɪŋ/
shining intensely
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading A shout from one of Donald's companions brought the five men who had been left out of their tents.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
charredverbUS /tʃɑːrd/
inflected form of “char” — burn to charcoal
From this reading Now, when the blanketing night was almost fallen, they sighted the charred ruins that had once been the warehouse of the free-traders, with a sigh of relief.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
clutchnounUS /klʌtʃ/
the act of grasping
From this reading A shriveled female form joined them, and with a clutch at his heart the prisoner recognized old Maria.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
Donald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
Donald's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A shout from one of Donald's companions brought the five men who had been left out of their tents.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading Now, when the blanketing night was almost fallen, they sighted the charred ruins that had once been the warehouse of the free-traders, with a sigh of relief.
being the sex (of plant or animal) that produces fertilizable gametes (ova) from which offspring develop
From this reading A shriveled female form joined them, and with a clutch at his heart the prisoner recognized old Maria.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading A shout from one of Donald's companions brought the five men who had been left out of their tents.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading A shriveled female form joined them, and with a clutch at his heart the prisoner recognized old Maria.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
free-traders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, when the blanketing night was almost fallen, they sighted the charred ruins that had once been the warehouse of the free-traders, with a sigh of relief.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A shout from one of Donald's companions brought the five men who had been left out of their tents.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading A shriveled female form joined them, and with a clutch at his heart the prisoner recognized old Maria.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
of or relating to two people who are married to each other
From this reading A shriveled female form joined them, and with a clutch at his heart the prisoner recognized old Maria.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading A shout from one of Donald's companions brought the five men who had been left out of their tents.
a dark region of considerable extent on the surface of the moon
From this reading A shriveled female form joined them, and with a clutch at his heart the prisoner recognized old Maria.
the force of workers available
From this reading A shout from one of Donald's companions brought the five men who had been left out of their tents.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, when the blanketing night was almost fallen, they sighted the charred ruins that had once been the warehouse of the free-traders, with a sigh of relief.
past form of “obtain” — come into possession of
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Now, when the blanketing night was almost fallen, they sighted the charred ruins that had once been the warehouse of the free-traders, with a sigh of relief.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading A shriveled female form joined them, and with a clutch at his heart the prisoner recognized old Maria.
on one occasion
From this reading Now, when the blanketing night was almost fallen, they sighted the charred ruins that had once been the warehouse of the free-traders, with a sigh of relief.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A shout from one of Donald's companions brought the five men who had been left out of their tents.
and nothing more
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
onwardadverbUS /ˈɔːnwərd/
forward in time or order or degree
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A shout from one of Donald's companions brought the five men who had been left out of their tents.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading A shriveled female form joined them, and with a clutch at his heart the prisoner recognized old Maria.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading A shriveled female form joined them, and with a clutch at his heart the prisoner recognized old Maria.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading Now, when the blanketing night was almost fallen, they sighted the charred ruins that had once been the warehouse of the free-traders, with a sigh of relief.
ruinsnounUS /ˈruːənz/
plural of “ruin” — an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading Now, when the blanketing night was almost fallen, they sighted the charred ruins that had once been the warehouse of the free-traders, with a sigh of relief.
SECRETEDverbUS /səˈkriːtɪd/
past form of “secrete” — generate and separate from cells or bodily fluids
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
shelterless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
utter in a loud voice; talk in a loud voice (usually denoting characteristic manner of speaking)
From this reading A shout from one of Donald's companions brought the five men who had been left out of their tents.
shriveledadjectiveUS /ˈʃrɪvəld/
(used especially of vegetation) having lost all moisture
From this reading A shriveled female form joined them, and with a clutch at his heart the prisoner recognized old Maria.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading Now, when the blanketing night was almost fallen, they sighted the charred ruins that had once been the warehouse of the free-traders, with a sigh of relief.
sightedadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪtɪd/
able to see
From this reading Now, when the blanketing night was almost fallen, they sighted the charred ruins that had once been the warehouse of the free-traders, with a sigh of relief.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
strainingnounUS /ˈstreɪnɪŋ/
an intense or violent exertion
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
SturgeonnounUS /ˈstɜːrdʒən/
large primitive fishes valued for their flesh and roe; widely distributed in the North Temperate Zone
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
tentsnounUS /tents/
plural of “tent” — a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading A shout from one of Donald's companions brought the five men who had been left out of their tents.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A shout from one of Donald's companions brought the five men who had been left out of their tents.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
always the same; showing a single form or character in all occurrences
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
warehousenounUS /ˈwerhaʊs/
a storehouse for goods and merchandise
From this reading Now, when the blanketing night was almost fallen, they sighted the charred ruins that had once been the warehouse of the free-traders, with a sigh of relief.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SECRETED EVIDENCE It was an hour before sunset, but so uniform had been the darkness all day that neither Donald nor his two companions realized that night was close upon them.
at the time that
From this reading Now, when the blanketing night was almost fallen, they sighted the charred ruins that had once been the warehouse of the free-traders, with a sigh of relief.
in or at the place that
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
which person or people
From this reading A shout from one of Donald's companions brought the five men who had been left out of their tents.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Now, when the blanketing night was almost fallen, they sighted the charred ruins that had once been the warehouse of the free-traders, with a sigh of relief.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Hour after hour they had struggled onward through the blinding, bewildering storm, shelterless and without food, straining forward to the only place where these things might be obtained--Sturgeon Lake.
