used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
abilitynounUS /əˈbɪlətiː/
the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment
From this reading He had a deep feeling of excitement--the conviction that the great test of his ability was slowly coming nearer.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading He wished to be fully provided with subterfuges against all possible contingencies.
(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 He wished to be fully provided with subterfuges against all possible contingencies.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For now there were but twenty miles of the journey left, and at any moment it might become imperative for him to risk everything in a quick forward rush.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading For now there were but twenty miles of the journey left, and at any moment it might become imperative for him to risk everything in a quick forward rush.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He wished to be fully provided with subterfuges against all possible contingencies.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading For now there were but twenty miles of the journey left, and at any moment it might become imperative for him to risk everything in a quick forward rush.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
ceaselesslyadverbUS /ˈsiːzləsli/
with unflagging resolve
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading He had a deep feeling of excitement--the conviction that the great test of his ability was slowly coming nearer.
contingenciesnounUS /kənˈtɪndʒənsiz/
plural of “contingency” — a possible event or occurrence or result
From this reading He wished to be fully provided with subterfuges against all possible contingencies.
an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence
From this reading He had a deep feeling of excitement--the conviction that the great test of his ability was slowly coming nearer.
decaynounUS /dɪˈkeɪ/
the process of gradually becoming inferior
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading He had a deep feeling of excitement--the conviction that the great test of his ability was slowly coming nearer.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading For now there were but twenty miles of the journey left, and at any moment it might become imperative for him to risk everything in a quick forward rush.
to or in any or all places
From this reading His intelligent eyes were here, there, and everywhere.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading He had a deep feeling of excitement--the conviction that the great test of his ability was slowly coming nearer.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His intelligent eyes were here, there, and everywhere.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading He had a deep feeling of excitement--the conviction that the great test of his ability was slowly coming nearer.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For now there were but twenty miles of the journey left, and at any moment it might become imperative for him to risk everything in a quick forward rush.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading For now there were but twenty miles of the journey left, and at any moment it might become imperative for him to risk everything in a quick forward rush.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading He wished to be fully provided with subterfuges against all possible contingencies.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading He had a deep feeling of excitement--the conviction that the great test of his ability was slowly coming nearer.
highest in quality
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading His intelligent eyes were here, there, and everywhere.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For now there were but twenty miles of the journey left, and at any moment it might become imperative for him to risk everything in a quick forward rush.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
imperativeadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈperətɪv/
requiring attention or action
From this reading For now there were but twenty miles of the journey left, and at any moment it might become imperative for him to risk everything in a quick forward rush.
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
intelligentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtelədʒənt/
having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree
From this reading His intelligent eyes were here, there, and everywhere.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For now there were but twenty miles of the journey left, and at any moment it might become imperative for him to risk everything in a quick forward rush.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading For now there were but twenty miles of the journey left, and at any moment it might become imperative for him to risk everything in a quick forward rush.
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 For now there were but twenty miles of the journey left, and at any moment it might become imperative for him to risk everything in a quick forward rush.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading For now there were but twenty miles of the journey left, and at any moment it might become imperative for him to risk everything in a quick forward rush.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading For now there were but twenty miles of the journey left, and at any moment it might become imperative for him to risk everything in a quick forward rush.
a particular point in time
From this reading For now there were but twenty miles of the journey left, and at any moment it might become imperative for him to risk everything in a quick forward rush.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading He had a deep feeling of excitement--the conviction that the great test of his ability was slowly coming nearer.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
on one occasion
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
have the will and intention to carry out some action
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading He wished to be fully provided with subterfuges against all possible contingencies.
past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading He wished to be fully provided with subterfuges against all possible contingencies.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading For now there were but twenty miles of the journey left, and at any moment it might become imperative for him to risk everything in a quick forward rush.
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading For now there were but twenty miles of the journey left, and at any moment it might become imperative for him to risk everything in a quick forward rush.
move hurridly
From this reading For now there were but twenty miles of the journey left, and at any moment it might become imperative for him to risk everything in a quick forward rush.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading He had a deep feeling of excitement--the conviction that the great test of his ability was slowly coming nearer.
subterfuges
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wished to be fully provided with subterfuges against all possible contingencies.
testnounUS /test/
trying something to find out about it
From this reading He had a deep feeling of excitement--the conviction that the great test of his ability was slowly coming nearer.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had a deep feeling of excitement--the conviction that the great test of his ability was slowly coming nearer.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
in or at that place or location
From this reading For now there were but twenty miles of the journey left, and at any moment it might become imperative for him to risk everything in a quick forward rush.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He wished to be fully provided with subterfuges against all possible contingencies.
townshipnounUS /ˈtaʊnʃɪp/
an administrative division of a county
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading For now there were but twenty miles of the journey left, and at any moment it might become imperative for him to risk everything in a quick forward rush.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had a deep feeling of excitement--the conviction that the great test of his ability was slowly coming nearer.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For now there were but twenty miles of the journey left, and at any moment it might become imperative for him to risk everything in a quick forward rush.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading He wished to be fully provided with subterfuges against all possible contingencies.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He wished to be fully provided with subterfuges against all possible contingencies.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He worked ceaselessly in his head at a plan of action as they cautiously approached the township, which had once been a place of importance but had now fallen into the greatest decay.
