used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A SENTINEL For a full minute Ralph Boyd stood bewildered in the middle of the road.
(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 All at once from a hammock growing at a considerable distance from where the young man stood there came to his ears the thrilling sound of a Seminole war-cry:
all-pervading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In vain did he look for some sign and listen for some sound that would betray the whereabouts of those who, but a moment before, had stood with him.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading All at once from a hammock growing at a considerable distance from where the young man stood there came to his ears the thrilling sound of a Seminole war-cry:
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading In vain did he look for some sign and listen for some sound that would betray the whereabouts of those who, but a moment before, had stood with him.
beingsnounUS /ˈbiːɪŋz/
plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
betrayverbUS /bɪˈtreɪ/
reveal unintentionally
From this reading In vain did he look for some sign and listen for some sound that would betray the whereabouts of those who, but a moment before, had stood with him.
bewilderedadjectiveUS /bɪˈwɪldərd/
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A SENTINEL For a full minute Ralph Boyd stood bewildered in the middle of the road.
Boyd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A SENTINEL For a full minute Ralph Boyd stood bewildered in the middle of the road.
breathings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
lacking funds
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In vain did he look for some sign and listen for some sound that would betray the whereabouts of those who, but a moment before, had stood with him.
cabbagenounUS /ˈkæbədʒ/
any of various types of cabbage
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
cheeryadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪri/
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree
From this reading All at once from a hammock growing at a considerable distance from where the young man stood there came to his ears the thrilling sound of a Seminole war-cry:
cooingverbUS /ˈkuːɪŋ/
-ing form of “coo” — speak softly or lovingly
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading In vain did he look for some sign and listen for some sound that would betray the whereabouts of those who, but a moment before, had stood with him.
DISAPPEARANCEnounUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrəns/
the act of leaving secretly or without explanation
From this reading MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A SENTINEL For a full minute Ralph Boyd stood bewildered in the middle of the road.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading All at once from a hammock growing at a considerable distance from where the young man stood there came to his ears the thrilling sound of a Seminole war-cry:
dovesnounUS /dʌvz/
plural of “dove” — any of numerous small pigeons
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading All at once from a hammock growing at a considerable distance from where the young man stood there came to his ears the thrilling sound of a Seminole war-cry:
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
far-away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
featheryadjectiveUS /ˈfeðəri/
resembling or suggesting a feather or feathers
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
flutteringnounUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/
a quick, light movement or sound made by wings
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A SENTINEL For a full minute Ralph Boyd stood bewildered in the middle of the road.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A SENTINEL For a full minute Ralph Boyd stood bewildered in the middle of the road.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
grassesnounUS /ˈɡræsəz/
plural of “grass” — narrow-leaved green herbage: grown as lawns; used as pasture for grazing animals; cut and dried as hay
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading All at once from a hammock growing at a considerable distance from where the young man stood there came to his ears the thrilling sound of a Seminole war-cry:
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In vain did he look for some sign and listen for some sound that would betray the whereabouts of those who, but a moment before, had stood with him.
hammocknounUS /ˈhæmək/
a small natural hill
From this reading All at once from a hammock growing at a considerable distance from where the young man stood there came to his ears the thrilling sound of a Seminole war-cry:
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In vain did he look for some sign and listen for some sound that would betray the whereabouts of those who, but a moment before, had stood with him.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
not accessible to view
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In vain did he look for some sign and listen for some sound that would betray the whereabouts of those who, but a moment before, had stood with him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading All at once from a hammock growing at a considerable distance from where the young man stood there came to his ears the thrilling sound of a Seminole war-cry:
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A SENTINEL For a full minute Ralph Boyd stood bewildered in the middle of the road.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
hear with intention
From this reading In vain did he look for some sign and listen for some sound that would betray the whereabouts of those who, but a moment before, had stood with him.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading In vain did he look for some sign and listen for some sound that would betray the whereabouts of those who, but a moment before, had stood with him.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading All at once from a hammock growing at a considerable distance from where the young man stood there came to his ears the thrilling sound of a Seminole war-cry:
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A SENTINEL For a full minute Ralph Boyd stood bewildered in the middle of the road.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A SENTINEL For a full minute Ralph Boyd stood bewildered in the middle of the road.
a particular point in time
From this reading In vain did he look for some sign and listen for some sound that would betray the whereabouts of those who, but a moment before, had stood with him.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
of an obscure nature
From this reading MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A SENTINEL For a full minute Ralph Boyd stood bewildered in the middle of the road.
not any; not one
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
a brief written record
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A SENTINEL For a full minute Ralph Boyd stood bewildered in the middle of the road.
on one occasion
From this reading All at once from a hammock growing at a considerable distance from where the young man stood there came to his ears the thrilling sound of a Seminole war-cry:
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
palmettonounUS /pælˈmetoʊ/
any of several low-growing palms with fan-shaped leaves
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
palmsnounUS /pɑːmz/
plural of “palm” — the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
quailverbUS /kweɪl/
draw back, as with fear or pain
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
Ralph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A SENTINEL For a full minute Ralph Boyd stood bewildered in the middle of the road.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A SENTINEL For a full minute Ralph Boyd stood bewildered in the middle of the road.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
scrubverbUS /skrʌb/
clean with hard rubbing
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
SeminolenounUS /ˈsemɪnoʊl/
a member of the Muskhogean people who moved into Florida in the 18th century
From this reading All at once from a hammock growing at a considerable distance from where the young man stood there came to his ears the thrilling sound of a Seminole war-cry:
SENTINELnounUS /ˈsentənəl/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A SENTINEL For a full minute Ralph Boyd stood bewildered in the middle of the road.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading In vain did he look for some sign and listen for some sound that would betray the whereabouts of those who, but a moment before, had stood with him.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading In vain did he look for some sign and listen for some sound that would betray the whereabouts of those who, but a moment before, had stood with him.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading In vain did he look for some sign and listen for some sound that would betray the whereabouts of those who, but a moment before, had stood with him.
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 The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
make steady
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
not moving or operating freely
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A SENTINEL For a full minute Ralph Boyd stood bewildered in the middle of the road.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In vain did he look for some sign and listen for some sound that would betray the whereabouts of those who, but a moment before, had stood with him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A SENTINEL For a full minute Ralph Boyd stood bewildered in the middle of the road.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
thicketsnounUS /ˈθɪkəts/
plural of “thicket” — a dense growth of bushes
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading In vain did he look for some sign and listen for some sound that would betray the whereabouts of those who, but a moment before, had stood with him.
thrillingadjectiveUS /ˈθrɪlɪŋ/
causing a surge of emotion or excitement
From this reading All at once from a hammock growing at a considerable distance from where the young man stood there came to his ears the thrilling sound of a Seminole war-cry:
tipsnounUS /tɪps/
plural of “tip” — the extreme end of something; especially something pointed
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
tracedverbUS /treɪst/
past form of “trace” — follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading In vain did he look for some sign and listen for some sound that would betray the whereabouts of those who, but a moment before, had stood with him.
war-cry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All at once from a hammock growing at a considerable distance from where the young man stood there came to his ears the thrilling sound of a Seminole war-cry:
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
past form of “wave” — signal with the hands or nod
From this reading The tall grasses waved and the flowers nodded before a gentle breeze, but it was not strong enough to move the stiff leaves of the palmetto scrub, nor was there any motion that might be traced to the passing of human beings among their hidden stalks.
in or at the place that
From this reading All at once from a hammock growing at a considerable distance from where the young man stood there came to his ears the thrilling sound of a Seminole war-cry:
whereaboutsnounUS /ˈwerəbaʊts/
the general location where something is
From this reading In vain did he look for some sign and listen for some sound that would betray the whereabouts of those who, but a moment before, had stood with him.
which person or people
From this reading In vain did he look for some sign and listen for some sound that would betray the whereabouts of those who, but a moment before, had stood with him.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In vain did he look for some sign and listen for some sound that would betray the whereabouts of those who, but a moment before, had stood with him.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading From the feathery tips of the cabbage palms came a steady fluttering that rose or fell with the breathings of the wind, and in far-away thickets could be heard the cooing of wood doves, and the occasional cheery note of a quail, but no other sound broke the all-pervading silence.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In vain did he look for some sign and listen for some sound that would betray the whereabouts of those who, but a moment before, had stood with him.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading All at once from a hammock growing at a considerable distance from where the young man stood there came to his ears the thrilling sound of a Seminole war-cry:
