used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I saw a vulture circling above the battlefield, one, two, then a dozen, then a score.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading I saw a vulture circling above the battlefield, one, two, then a dozen, then a score.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The blazing sun was yet high when we were in our saddles and moving away.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They were in the cane fields which our men were firing, and as the flames swept on, the bursting stalks sounded like a battle with light revolvers.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Night comes suddenly in the tropics, when the sun dips beyond the sea, but here and there in the valley were lights, lantern like at first, spreading soon like a long prairie fire.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The blazing sun was yet high when we were in our saddles and moving away.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading They were in the cane fields which our men were firing, and as the flames swept on, the bursting stalks sounded like a battle with light revolvers.
battlefieldnounUS /ˈbætəlfiːld/
a region where a battle is being (or has been) fought
From this reading I saw a vulture circling above the battlefield, one, two, then a dozen, then a score.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Night comes suddenly in the tropics, when the sun dips beyond the sea, but here and there in the valley were lights, lantern like at first, spreading soon like a long prairie fire.
black-winged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These black-winged scavengers had scented death, and there let contemplation end.
blazingadjectiveUS /ˈbleɪzɪŋ/
shining intensely
From this reading The blazing sun was yet high when we were in our saddles and moving away.
burstingverbUS /ˈbɜːrstɪŋ/
-ing form of “burst” — come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading They were in the cane fields which our men were firing, and as the flames swept on, the bursting stalks sounded like a battle with light revolvers.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Night comes suddenly in the tropics, when the sun dips beyond the sea, but here and there in the valley were lights, lantern like at first, spreading soon like a long prairie fire.
canenounUS /keɪn/
a stick that people can lean on to help them walk
From this reading They were in the cane fields which our men were firing, and as the flames swept on, the bursting stalks sounded like a battle with light revolvers.
circlingverbUS /ˈsɜːrkəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “circle” — travel around something
From this reading I saw a vulture circling above the battlefield, one, two, then a dozen, then a score.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading Night comes suddenly in the tropics, when the sun dips beyond the sea, but here and there in the valley were lights, lantern like at first, spreading soon like a long prairie fire.
contemplationnounUS /ˌkɑːntəmˈpleɪʃən/
a long and thoughtful observation
From this reading These black-winged scavengers had scented death, and there let contemplation end.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading These black-winged scavengers had scented death, and there let contemplation end.
dipsnounUS /dɪps/
plural of “dip” — a depression in an otherwise level surface
From this reading Night comes suddenly in the tropics, when the sun dips beyond the sea, but here and there in the valley were lights, lantern like at first, spreading soon like a long prairie fire.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading I saw a vulture circling above the battlefield, one, two, then a dozen, then a score.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading These black-winged scavengers had scented death, and there let contemplation end.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading They were in the cane fields which our men were firing, and as the flames swept on, the bursting stalks sounded like a battle with light revolvers.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Night comes suddenly in the tropics, when the sun dips beyond the sea, but here and there in the valley were lights, lantern like at first, spreading soon like a long prairie fire.
firingnounUS /ˈfaɪrɪŋ/
the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy
From this reading They were in the cane fields which our men were firing, and as the flames swept on, the bursting stalks sounded like a battle with light revolvers.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Night comes suddenly in the tropics, when the sun dips beyond the sea, but here and there in the valley were lights, lantern like at first, spreading soon like a long prairie fire.
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading They were in the cane fields which our men were firing, and as the flames swept on, the bursting stalks sounded like a battle with light revolvers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading These black-winged scavengers had scented death, and there let contemplation end.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Night comes suddenly in the tropics, when the sun dips beyond the sea, but here and there in the valley were lights, lantern like at first, spreading soon like a long prairie fire.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The blazing sun was yet high when we were in our saddles and moving away.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I saw a vulture circling above the battlefield, one, two, then a dozen, then a score.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The blazing sun was yet high when we were in our saddles and moving away.
lanternnounUS /ˈlæntərn/
light in a transparent protective case
From this reading Night comes suddenly in the tropics, when the sun dips beyond the sea, but here and there in the valley were lights, lantern like at first, spreading soon like a long prairie fire.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading These black-winged scavengers had scented death, and there let contemplation end.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading They were in the cane fields which our men were firing, and as the flames swept on, the bursting stalks sounded like a battle with light revolvers.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading Night comes suddenly in the tropics, when the sun dips beyond the sea, but here and there in the valley were lights, lantern like at first, spreading soon like a long prairie fire.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Night comes suddenly in the tropics, when the sun dips beyond the sea, but here and there in the valley were lights, lantern like at first, spreading soon like a long prairie fire.
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 Night comes suddenly in the tropics, when the sun dips beyond the sea, but here and there in the valley were lights, lantern like at first, spreading soon like a long prairie fire.
the force of workers available
From this reading They were in the cane fields which our men were firing, and as the flames swept on, the bursting stalks sounded like a battle with light revolvers.
in motion
From this reading The blazing sun was yet high when we were in our saddles and moving away.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Night comes suddenly in the tropics, when the sun dips beyond the sea, but here and there in the valley were lights, lantern like at first, spreading soon like a long prairie fire.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They were in the cane fields which our men were firing, and as the flames swept on, the bursting stalks sounded like a battle with light revolvers.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I saw a vulture circling above the battlefield, one, two, then a dozen, then a score.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The blazing sun was yet high when we were in our saddles and moving away.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading Night comes suddenly in the tropics, when the sun dips beyond the sea, but here and there in the valley were lights, lantern like at first, spreading soon like a long prairie fire.
revolversnounUS /rɪˈvɑːlvərz/
plural of “revolver” — a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
From this reading They were in the cane fields which our men were firing, and as the flames swept on, the bursting stalks sounded like a battle with light revolvers.
saddlesnounUS /ˈsædəlz/
plural of “saddle” — a seat for the rider of a horse or other animal
From this reading The blazing sun was yet high when we were in our saddles and moving away.
cut with a saw
From this reading I saw a vulture circling above the battlefield, one, two, then a dozen, then a score.
scavengersnounUS /ˈskævəndʒərz/
plural of “scavenger” — a chemical agent that is added to a chemical mixture to counteract the effects of impurities
From this reading These black-winged scavengers had scented death, and there let contemplation end.
scentedadjectiveUS /ˈsentɪd/
having the sense of smell
From this reading These black-winged scavengers had scented death, and there let contemplation end.
a number or letter indicating quality (especially of a student's performance)
From this reading I saw a vulture circling above the battlefield, one, two, then a dozen, then a score.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Night comes suddenly in the tropics, when the sun dips beyond the sea, but here and there in the valley were lights, lantern like at first, spreading soon like a long prairie fire.
in the near future
From this reading Night comes suddenly in the tropics, when the sun dips beyond the sea, but here and there in the valley were lights, lantern like at first, spreading soon like a long prairie fire.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading They were in the cane fields which our men were firing, and as the flames swept on, the bursting stalks sounded like a battle with light revolvers.
spreadingnounUS /ˈspredɪŋ/
process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
From this reading Night comes suddenly in the tropics, when the sun dips beyond the sea, but here and there in the valley were lights, lantern like at first, spreading soon like a long prairie fire.
stalksnounUS /stɔːks/
plural of “stalk” — material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds
From this reading They were in the cane fields which our men were firing, and as the flames swept on, the bursting stalks sounded like a battle with light revolvers.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Night comes suddenly in the tropics, when the sun dips beyond the sea, but here and there in the valley were lights, lantern like at first, spreading soon like a long prairie fire.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The blazing sun was yet high when we were in our saddles and moving away.
possessing sweep
From this reading They were in the cane fields which our men were firing, and as the flames swept on, the bursting stalks sounded like a battle with light revolvers.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The blazing sun was yet high when we were in our saddles and moving away.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading I saw a vulture circling above the battlefield, one, two, then a dozen, then a score.
in or at that place or location
From this reading These black-winged scavengers had scented death, and there let contemplation end.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These black-winged scavengers had scented death, and there let contemplation end.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were in the cane fields which our men were firing, and as the flames swept on, the bursting stalks sounded like a battle with light revolvers.
tropicsnounUS /ˈtrɑːpɪks/
the part of the Earth's surface between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn; characterized by a hot climate
From this reading Night comes suddenly in the tropics, when the sun dips beyond the sea, but here and there in the valley were lights, lantern like at first, spreading soon like a long prairie fire.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading I saw a vulture circling above the battlefield, one, two, then a dozen, then a score.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading Night comes suddenly in the tropics, when the sun dips beyond the sea, but here and there in the valley were lights, lantern like at first, spreading soon like a long prairie fire.
vulturenounUS /ˈvʌltʃər/
any of various large diurnal birds of prey having naked heads and weak claws and feeding chiefly on carrion
From this reading I saw a vulture circling above the battlefield, one, two, then a dozen, then a score.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The blazing sun was yet high when we were in our saddles and moving away.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The blazing sun was yet high when we were in our saddles and moving away.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The blazing sun was yet high when we were in our saddles and moving away.
at the time that
From this reading The blazing sun was yet high when we were in our saddles and moving away.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They were in the cane fields which our men were firing, and as the flames swept on, the bursting stalks sounded like a battle with light revolvers.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They were in the cane fields which our men were firing, and as the flames swept on, the bursting stalks sounded like a battle with light revolvers.
but in spite of that
From this reading The blazing sun was yet high when we were in our saddles and moving away.
