used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Not a single human being or evidence of life did they discover, nor were they fired upon from the belt of timber surrounding the cleared fields.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Even the secret place of exit through the swamp, provided for just such an emergency as the present, had not been discovered when darkness put an end to the search, and the troops camped in and about the Indian village for the night.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE MARK OF THE WILDCAT In vain did the soldiers ransack the empty huts of the village, and scour the island from end to end.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Not a single human being or evidence of life did they discover, nor were they fired upon from the belt of timber surrounding the cleared fields.
beltnounUS /belt/
endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys
From this reading Not a single human being or evidence of life did they discover, nor were they fired upon from the belt of timber surrounding the cleared fields.
campedverbUS /kæmpt/
past form of “camp” — live in or as if in a tent
From this reading Even the secret place of exit through the swamp, provided for just such an emergency as the present, had not been discovered when darkness put an end to the search, and the troops camped in and about the Indian village for the night.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush
From this reading Not a single human being or evidence of life did they discover, nor were they fired upon from the belt of timber surrounding the cleared fields.
commandingadjectiveUS /kəˈmændɪŋ/
used of a height or viewpoint
From this reading The officer commanding the expedition was furious.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Even the secret place of exit through the swamp, provided for just such an emergency as the present, had not been discovered when darkness put an end to the search, and the troops camped in and about the Indian village for the night.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading THE MARK OF THE WILDCAT In vain did the soldiers ransack the empty huts of the village, and scour the island from end to end.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading Not a single human being or evidence of life did they discover, nor were they fired upon from the belt of timber surrounding the cleared fields.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading Even the secret place of exit through the swamp, provided for just such an emergency as the present, had not been discovered when darkness put an end to the search, and the troops camped in and about the Indian village for the night.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
emergencynounUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi/
a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action
From this reading Even the secret place of exit through the swamp, provided for just such an emergency as the present, had not been discovered when darkness put an end to the search, and the troops camped in and about the Indian village for the night.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading THE MARK OF THE WILDCAT In vain did the soldiers ransack the empty huts of the village, and scour the island from end to end.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading THE MARK OF THE WILDCAT In vain did the soldiers ransack the empty huts of the village, and scour the island from end to end.
divisible by two
From this reading Even the secret place of exit through the swamp, provided for just such an emergency as the present, had not been discovered when darkness put an end to the search, and the troops camped in and about the Indian village for the night.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading Not a single human being or evidence of life did they discover, nor were they fired upon from the belt of timber surrounding the cleared fields.
exitnounUS /ˈeɡzɪt/
an opening that permits escape or release
From this reading Even the secret place of exit through the swamp, provided for just such an emergency as the present, had not been discovered when darkness put an end to the search, and the troops camped in and about the Indian village for the night.
a military campaign designed to achieve a specific objective in a foreign country
From this reading The officer commanding the expedition was furious.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading Not a single human being or evidence of life did they discover, nor were they fired upon from the belt of timber surrounding the cleared fields.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading Not a single human being or evidence of life did they discover, nor were they fired upon from the belt of timber surrounding the cleared fields.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Even the secret place of exit through the swamp, provided for just such an emergency as the present, had not been discovered when darkness put an end to the search, and the troops camped in and about the Indian village for the night.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE MARK OF THE WILDCAT In vain did the soldiers ransack the empty huts of the village, and scour the island from end to end.
furiousadjectiveUS /ˈfjʊriəs/
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading The officer commanding the expedition was furious.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Not a single human being or evidence of life did they discover, nor were they fired upon from the belt of timber surrounding the cleared fields.
plural of “hundred” — ten 10s
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
hutsnounUS /hʌts/
plural of “hut” — temporary military shelter
From this reading THE MARK OF THE WILDCAT In vain did the soldiers ransack the empty huts of the village, and scour the island from end to end.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE MARK OF THE WILDCAT In vain did the soldiers ransack the empty huts of the village, and scour the island from end to end.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading Even the secret place of exit through the swamp, provided for just such an emergency as the present, had not been discovered when darkness put an end to the search, and the troops camped in and about the Indian village for the night.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading THE MARK OF THE WILDCAT In vain did the soldiers ransack the empty huts of the village, and scour the island from end to end.
and nothing more
From this reading Even the secret place of exit through the swamp, provided for just such an emergency as the present, had not been discovered when darkness put an end to the search, and the troops camped in and about the Indian village for the night.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Not a single human being or evidence of life did they discover, nor were they fired upon from the belt of timber surrounding the cleared fields.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading THE MARK OF THE WILDCAT In vain did the soldiers ransack the empty huts of the village, and scour the island from end to end.
the force of workers available
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
mysteriouslyadverbUS /ˌmɪˈstɪriəsli/
in a cryptic manner
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
negroesnounUS /ˈniːɡroʊz/
plural of “negro” — a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Even the secret place of exit through the swamp, provided for just such an emergency as the present, had not been discovered when darkness put an end to the search, and the troops camped in and about the Indian village for the night.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Not a single human being or evidence of life did they discover, nor were they fired upon from the belt of timber surrounding the cleared fields.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not a single human being or evidence of life did they discover, nor were they fired upon from the belt of timber surrounding the cleared fields.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MARK OF THE WILDCAT In vain did the soldiers ransack the empty huts of the village, and scour the island from end to end.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading The officer commanding the expedition was furious.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Not a single human being or evidence of life did they discover, nor were they fired upon from the belt of timber surrounding the cleared fields.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Even the secret place of exit through the swamp, provided for just such an emergency as the present, had not been discovered when darkness put an end to the search, and the troops camped in and about the Indian village for the night.
past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading Even the secret place of exit through the swamp, provided for just such an emergency as the present, had not been discovered when darkness put an end to the search, and the troops camped in and about the Indian village for the night.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Even the secret place of exit through the swamp, provided for just such an emergency as the present, had not been discovered when darkness put an end to the search, and the troops camped in and about the Indian village for the night.
ransackverbUS /ˈrænsæk/
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading THE MARK OF THE WILDCAT In vain did the soldiers ransack the empty huts of the village, and scour the island from end to end.
scourverbUS /ˈskaʊər/
examine minutely
From this reading THE MARK OF THE WILDCAT In vain did the soldiers ransack the empty huts of the village, and scour the island from end to end.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading Even the secret place of exit through the swamp, provided for just such an emergency as the present, had not been discovered when darkness put an end to the search, and the troops camped in and about the Indian village for the night.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading Even the secret place of exit through the swamp, provided for just such an emergency as the present, had not been discovered when darkness put an end to the search, and the troops camped in and about the Indian village for the night.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading Not a single human being or evidence of life did they discover, nor were they fired upon from the belt of timber surrounding the cleared fields.
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading THE MARK OF THE WILDCAT In vain did the soldiers ransack the empty huts of the village, and scour the island from end to end.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Even the secret place of exit through the swamp, provided for just such an emergency as the present, had not been discovered when darkness put an end to the search, and the troops camped in and about the Indian village for the night.
surroundingadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋ/
closely encircling
From this reading Not a single human being or evidence of life did they discover, nor were they fired upon from the belt of timber surrounding the cleared fields.
swallowedverbUS /ˈswɑːloʊd/
past form of “swallow” — pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
swampverbUS /swɑːmp/
drench or submerge or be drenched or submerged
From this reading Even the secret place of exit through the swamp, provided for just such an emergency as the present, had not been discovered when darkness put an end to the search, and the troops camped in and about the Indian village for the night.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MARK OF THE WILDCAT In vain did the soldiers ransack the empty huts of the village, and scour the island from end to end.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Not a single human being or evidence of life did they discover, nor were they fired upon from the belt of timber surrounding the cleared fields.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Even the secret place of exit through the swamp, provided for just such an emergency as the present, had not been discovered when darkness put an end to the search, and the troops camped in and about the Indian village for the night.
timbernounUS /ˈtɪmbər/
the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading Not a single human being or evidence of life did they discover, nor were they fired upon from the belt of timber surrounding the cleared fields.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE MARK OF THE WILDCAT In vain did the soldiers ransack the empty huts of the village, and scour the island from end to end.
soldiers collectively
From this reading Even the secret place of exit through the swamp, provided for just such an emergency as the present, had not been discovered when darkness put an end to the search, and the troops camped in and about the Indian village for the night.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Not a single human being or evidence of life did they discover, nor were they fired upon from the belt of timber surrounding the cleared fields.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading THE MARK OF THE WILDCAT In vain did the soldiers ransack the empty huts of the village, and scour the island from end to end.
having passed out of existence
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading THE MARK OF THE WILDCAT In vain did the soldiers ransack the empty huts of the village, and scour the island from end to end.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The officer commanding the expedition was furious.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Not a single human being or evidence of life did they discover, nor were they fired upon from the belt of timber surrounding the cleared fields.
at the time that
From this reading Even the secret place of exit through the swamp, provided for just such an emergency as the present, had not been discovered when darkness put an end to the search, and the troops camped in and about the Indian village for the night.
which person or people
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
WILDCATnounUS /ˈwaɪldkæt/
an exploratory oil well drilled in land not known to be an oil field
From this reading THE MARK OF THE WILDCAT In vain did the soldiers ransack the empty huts of the village, and scour the island from end to end.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The hundreds of men, women, and children, Indians and negroes, who had been at home in this place less than an hour before, had vanished as mysteriously and completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed them.
