used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading General Clinch exchanged a few words with the agent and gave an order to the officer in command of the troops.
agentnounUS /ˈeɪdʒənt/
an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect
From this reading General Clinch exchanged a few words with the agent and gave an order to the officer in command of the troops.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading General Clinch exchanged a few words with the agent and gave an order to the officer in command of the troops.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading General Clinch exchanged a few words with the agent and gave an order to the officer in command of the troops.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
batterynounUS /ˈbætəri/
group of guns or missile launchers operated together at one place
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
bayonetsnounUS /ˈbeɪənets/
plural of “bayonet” — a knife that can be fixed to the end of a rifle and used as a weapon
From this reading Now, in obedience to a signal from the agent, they sprang forward with fixed bayonets, and in an instant Osceola, cut off from his friends, was hedged in by a wall of glittering steel.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading OSCEOLA SIGNS THE TREATY The group of white men on the opposite side of the table had left their seats before Osceola stepped toward it.
blindedadjectiveUS /ˈblaɪndɪd/
deprived of sight
From this reading These were moved forward a few paces, though, blinded by the intensity of his feelings, the half-breed failed to notice their change of position.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading These were moved forward a few paces, though, blinded by the intensity of his feelings, the half-breed failed to notice their change of position.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading These were moved forward a few paces, though, blinded by the intensity of his feelings, the half-breed failed to notice their change of position.
ClinchverbUS /klɪntʃ/
secure or fasten by flattening the ends of nails or bolts
From this reading General Clinch exchanged a few words with the agent and gave an order to the officer in command of the troops.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading General Clinch exchanged a few words with the agent and gave an order to the officer in command of the troops.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Now, in obedience to a signal from the agent, they sprang forward with fixed bayonets, and in an instant Osceola, cut off from his friends, was hedged in by a wall of glittering steel.
dashingadjectiveUS /ˈdæʃɪŋ/
lively and spirited
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
drumsnounUS /drʌmz/
plural of “drum” — a musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
remove the dust from
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
exchangedadjectiveUS /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒd/
changed for (replaced by) something different
From this reading General Clinch exchanged a few words with the agent and gave an order to the officer in command of the troops.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading These were moved forward a few paces, though, blinded by the intensity of his feelings, the half-breed failed to notice their change of position.
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading These were moved forward a few paces, though, blinded by the intensity of his feelings, the half-breed failed to notice their change of position.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading General Clinch exchanged a few words with the agent and gave an order to the officer in command of the troops.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading Now, in obedience to a signal from the agent, they sprang forward with fixed bayonets, and in an instant Osceola, cut off from his friends, was hedged in by a wall of glittering steel.
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading These were moved forward a few paces, though, blinded by the intensity of his feelings, the half-breed failed to notice their change of position.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Now, in obedience to a signal from the agent, they sprang forward with fixed bayonets, and in an instant Osceola, cut off from his friends, was hedged in by a wall of glittering steel.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Now, in obedience to a signal from the agent, they sprang forward with fixed bayonets, and in an instant Osceola, cut off from his friends, was hedged in by a wall of glittering steel.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
gatewaynounUS /ˈɡeɪtweɪ/
an entrance that can be closed by a gate
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading General Clinch exchanged a few words with the agent and gave an order to the officer in command of the troops.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading General Clinch exchanged a few words with the agent and gave an order to the officer in command of the troops.
glitteringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪtərɪŋ/
having brief brilliant points or flashes of light
From this reading Now, in obedience to a signal from the agent, they sprang forward with fixed bayonets, and in an instant Osceola, cut off from his friends, was hedged in by a wall of glittering steel.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading OSCEOLA SIGNS THE TREATY The group of white men on the opposite side of the table had left their seats before Osceola stepped toward it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading OSCEOLA SIGNS THE TREATY The group of white men on the opposite side of the table had left their seats before Osceola stepped toward it.
half-breednoun
an offensive term for an offspring of parents of different racial group (especially of Caucasian and American Indian ancestry)
From this reading These were moved forward a few paces, though, blinded by the intensity of his feelings, the half-breed failed to notice their change of position.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
hedgedadjectiveUS /hedʒd/
evasively worded in order to avoid an unqualified statement
From this reading Now, in obedience to a signal from the agent, they sprang forward with fixed bayonets, and in an instant Osceola, cut off from his friends, was hedged in by a wall of glittering steel.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading These were moved forward a few paces, though, blinded by the intensity of his feelings, the half-breed failed to notice their change of position.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading General Clinch exchanged a few words with the agent and gave an order to the officer in command of the troops.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading Now, in obedience to a signal from the agent, they sprang forward with fixed bayonets, and in an instant Osceola, cut off from his friends, was hedged in by a wall of glittering steel.
intensitynounUS /ɪnˈtensəti/
the amount of energy transmitted (as by acoustic or electromagnetic radiation)
From this reading These were moved forward a few paces, though, blinded by the intensity of his feelings, the half-breed failed to notice their change of position.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading OSCEOLA SIGNS THE TREATY The group of white men on the opposite side of the table had left their seats before Osceola stepped toward it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
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 OSCEOLA SIGNS THE TREATY The group of white men on the opposite side of the table had left their seats before Osceola stepped toward it.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
the force of workers available
From this reading OSCEOLA SIGNS THE TREATY The group of white men on the opposite side of the table had left their seats before Osceola stepped toward it.
a particular point in time
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading These were moved forward a few paces, though, blinded by the intensity of his feelings, the half-breed failed to notice their change of position.
murderousadjectiveUS /ˈmɜːrdərəs/
characteristic of or capable of or having a tendency toward killing another human being
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
muzzlesnounUS /ˈmʌzəlz/
plural of “muzzle” — the open circular discharging end of a gun
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading These were moved forward a few paces, though, blinded by the intensity of his feelings, the half-breed failed to notice their change of position.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, in obedience to a signal from the agent, they sprang forward with fixed bayonets, and in an instant Osceola, cut off from his friends, was hedged in by a wall of glittering steel.
obediencenounUS /oʊˈbiːdiəns/
the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person
From this reading Now, in obedience to a signal from the agent, they sprang forward with fixed bayonets, and in an instant Osceola, cut off from his friends, was hedged in by a wall of glittering steel.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading OSCEOLA SIGNS THE TREATY The group of white men on the opposite side of the table had left their seats before Osceola stepped toward it.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Now, in obedience to a signal from the agent, they sprang forward with fixed bayonets, and in an instant Osceola, cut off from his friends, was hedged in by a wall of glittering steel.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading General Clinch exchanged a few words with the agent and gave an order to the officer in command of the troops.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading OSCEOLA SIGNS THE TREATY The group of white men on the opposite side of the table had left their seats before Osceola stepped toward it.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading OSCEOLA SIGNS THE TREATY The group of white men on the opposite side of the table had left their seats before Osceola stepped toward it.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading General Clinch exchanged a few words with the agent and gave an order to the officer in command of the troops.
OSCEOLA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OSCEOLA SIGNS THE TREATY The group of white men on the opposite side of the table had left their seats before Osceola stepped toward it.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
pacesnounUS /ˈpeɪsɪz/
plural of “pace” — the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading These were moved forward a few paces, though, blinded by the intensity of his feelings, the half-breed failed to notice their change of position.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading These were moved forward a few paces, though, blinded by the intensity of his feelings, the half-breed failed to notice their change of position.
rattleverbUS /ˈrætəl/
make short successive sounds
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
Identical; not different.
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
seatsnounUS /siːts/
an area that includes places where several people can sit
From this reading OSCEOLA SIGNS THE TREATY The group of white men on the opposite side of the table had left their seats before Osceola stepped toward it.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading OSCEOLA SIGNS THE TREATY The group of white men on the opposite side of the table had left their seats before Osceola stepped toward it.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading Now, in obedience to a signal from the agent, they sprang forward with fixed bayonets, and in an instant Osceola, cut off from his friends, was hedged in by a wall of glittering steel.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading OSCEOLA SIGNS THE TREATY The group of white men on the opposite side of the table had left their seats before Osceola stepped toward it.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Now, in obedience to a signal from the agent, they sprang forward with fixed bayonets, and in an instant Osceola, cut off from his friends, was hedged in by a wall of glittering steel.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading Now, in obedience to a signal from the agent, they sprang forward with fixed bayonets, and in an instant Osceola, cut off from his friends, was hedged in by a wall of glittering steel.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading OSCEOLA SIGNS THE TREATY The group of white men on the opposite side of the table had left their seats before Osceola stepped toward it.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading OSCEOLA SIGNS THE TREATY The group of white men on the opposite side of the table had left their seats before Osceola stepped toward it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading OSCEOLA SIGNS THE TREATY The group of white men on the opposite side of the table had left their seats before Osceola stepped toward it.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading OSCEOLA SIGNS THE TREATY The group of white men on the opposite side of the table had left their seats before Osceola stepped toward it.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These were moved forward a few paces, though, blinded by the intensity of his feelings, the half-breed failed to notice their change of position.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now, in obedience to a signal from the agent, they sprang forward with fixed bayonets, and in an instant Osceola, cut off from his friends, was hedged in by a wall of glittering steel.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading These were moved forward a few paces, though, blinded by the intensity of his feelings, the half-breed failed to notice their change of position.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading General Clinch exchanged a few words with the agent and gave an order to the officer in command of the troops.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading OSCEOLA SIGNS THE TREATY The group of white men on the opposite side of the table had left their seats before Osceola stepped toward it.
trainedadjectiveUS /treɪnd/
shaped or conditioned or disciplined by training; often used as a combining form
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
TREATYnounUS /ˈtriːti/
a written agreement between two states or sovereigns
From this reading OSCEOLA SIGNS THE TREATY The group of white men on the opposite side of the table had left their seats before Osceola stepped toward it.
soldiers collectively
From this reading General Clinch exchanged a few words with the agent and gave an order to the officer in command of the troops.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Now, in obedience to a signal from the agent, they sprang forward with fixed bayonets, and in an instant Osceola, cut off from his friends, was hedged in by a wall of glittering steel.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Now, in obedience to a signal from the agent, they sprang forward with fixed bayonets, and in an instant Osceola, cut off from his friends, was hedged in by a wall of glittering steel.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These were moved forward a few paces, though, blinded by the intensity of his feelings, the half-breed failed to notice their change of position.
wheeledadjectiveUS /wiːld/
having wheels; often used in combination
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
a Caucasian
From this reading OSCEOLA SIGNS THE TREATY The group of white men on the opposite side of the table had left their seats before Osceola stepped toward it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading General Clinch exchanged a few words with the agent and gave an order to the officer in command of the troops.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading At the same moment a sharp rattle of drums was heard within the fort, and the light battery, dashing out from the gateway in a cloud of dust, was wheeled into position with its murderous muzzles trained full on the startled Indians.
the words that are spoken
From this reading General Clinch exchanged a few words with the agent and gave an order to the officer in command of the troops.
