used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A PERILOUS ADVENTURE Each moment seemed an age to the anxious lad watching on the crest of the ridge.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading A PERILOUS ADVENTURE Each moment seemed an age to the anxious lad watching on the crest of the ridge.
how long something has existed
From this reading A PERILOUS ADVENTURE Each moment seemed an age to the anxious lad watching on the crest of the ridge.
(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 His mind became a prey to all sorts of gloomy forebodings.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A PERILOUS ADVENTURE Each moment seemed an age to the anxious lad watching on the crest of the ridge.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The night hush had fallen upon the plain, and the very stillness oppressed him.
eagerly desirous
From this reading A PERILOUS ADVENTURE Each moment seemed an age to the anxious lad watching on the crest of the ridge.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading His mind became a prey to all sorts of gloomy forebodings.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He began to give way to his imagination.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He feared that he was surrounded by prowling, sharp-eared scouts from the Ute camp, and that some of them had concealed themselves on the ridge to wait for the Sioux war party.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading He feared that he was surrounded by prowling, sharp-eared scouts from the Ute camp, and that some of them had concealed themselves on the ridge to wait for the Sioux war party.
not accessible to view
From this reading He feared that he was surrounded by prowling, sharp-eared scouts from the Ute camp, and that some of them had concealed themselves on the ridge to wait for the Sioux war party.
crestnounUS /krest/
the top line of a hill, mountain, or wave
From this reading A PERILOUS ADVENTURE Each moment seemed an age to the anxious lad watching on the crest of the ridge.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading A PERILOUS ADVENTURE Each moment seemed an age to the anxious lad watching on the crest of the ridge.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading The night hush had fallen upon the plain, and the very stillness oppressed him.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading He feared that he was surrounded by prowling, sharp-eared scouts from the Ute camp, and that some of them had concealed themselves on the ridge to wait for the Sioux war party.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He feared that he was surrounded by prowling, sharp-eared scouts from the Ute camp, and that some of them had concealed themselves on the ridge to wait for the Sioux war party.
forebodings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mind became a prey to all sorts of gloomy forebodings.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He feared that he was surrounded by prowling, sharp-eared scouts from the Ute camp, and that some of them had concealed themselves on the ridge to wait for the Sioux war party.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading He began to give way to his imagination.
depressingly dark
From this reading His mind became a prey to all sorts of gloomy forebodings.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The night hush had fallen upon the plain, and the very stillness oppressed him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He began to give way to his imagination.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The night hush had fallen upon the plain, and the very stillness oppressed him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His mind became a prey to all sorts of gloomy forebodings.
become quiet or still; fall silent
From this reading The night hush had fallen upon the plain, and the very stillness oppressed him.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading He began to give way to his imagination.
a boy or man
From this reading A PERILOUS ADVENTURE Each moment seemed an age to the anxious lad watching on the crest of the ridge.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading His mind became a prey to all sorts of gloomy forebodings.
a particular point in time
From this reading A PERILOUS ADVENTURE Each moment seemed an age to the anxious lad watching on the crest of the ridge.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The night hush had fallen upon the plain, and the very stillness oppressed him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A PERILOUS ADVENTURE Each moment seemed an age to the anxious lad watching on the crest of the ridge.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A PERILOUS ADVENTURE Each moment seemed an age to the anxious lad watching on the crest of the ridge.
oppressedadjectiveUS /əˈprest/
burdened psychologically or mentally
From this reading The night hush had fallen upon the plain, and the very stillness oppressed him.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading He feared that he was surrounded by prowling, sharp-eared scouts from the Ute camp, and that some of them had concealed themselves on the ridge to wait for the Sioux war party.
PERILOUSadjectiveUS /ˈperələs/
fraught with danger
From this reading A PERILOUS ADVENTURE Each moment seemed an age to the anxious lad watching on the crest of the ridge.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading The night hush had fallen upon the plain, and the very stillness oppressed him.
preynounUS /preɪ/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading His mind became a prey to all sorts of gloomy forebodings.
prowlingverbUS /ˈpraʊlɪŋ/
-ing form of “prowl” — move about in or as if in a predatory manner
From this reading He feared that he was surrounded by prowling, sharp-eared scouts from the Ute camp, and that some of them had concealed themselves on the ridge to wait for the Sioux war party.
ridgenounUS /rɪdʒ/
a long narrow natural elevation or striation
From this reading A PERILOUS ADVENTURE Each moment seemed an age to the anxious lad watching on the crest of the ridge.
scoutsnounUS /skaʊts/
plural of “scout” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading He feared that he was surrounded by prowling, sharp-eared scouts from the Ute camp, and that some of them had concealed themselves on the ridge to wait for the Sioux war party.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A PERILOUS ADVENTURE Each moment seemed an age to the anxious lad watching on the crest of the ridge.
sharp-earedadjective
having keen hearing
From this reading He feared that he was surrounded by prowling, sharp-eared scouts from the Ute camp, and that some of them had concealed themselves on the ridge to wait for the Sioux war party.
SiouxnounUS /suː/
a member of a group of North American Indian peoples who spoke a Siouan language and who ranged from Lake Michigan to the Rocky Mountains
From this reading He feared that he was surrounded by prowling, sharp-eared scouts from the Ute camp, and that some of them had concealed themselves on the ridge to wait for the Sioux war party.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He feared that he was surrounded by prowling, sharp-eared scouts from the Ute camp, and that some of them had concealed themselves on the ridge to wait for the Sioux war party.
plural of “sort” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading His mind became a prey to all sorts of gloomy forebodings.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading The night hush had fallen upon the plain, and the very stillness oppressed him.
confined on all sides
From this reading He feared that he was surrounded by prowling, sharp-eared scouts from the Ute camp, and that some of them had concealed themselves on the ridge to wait for the Sioux war party.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He feared that he was surrounded by prowling, sharp-eared scouts from the Ute camp, and that some of them had concealed themselves on the ridge to wait for the Sioux war party.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A PERILOUS ADVENTURE Each moment seemed an age to the anxious lad watching on the crest of the ridge.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He feared that he was surrounded by prowling, sharp-eared scouts from the Ute camp, and that some of them had concealed themselves on the ridge to wait for the Sioux war party.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading He feared that he was surrounded by prowling, sharp-eared scouts from the Ute camp, and that some of them had concealed themselves on the ridge to wait for the Sioux war party.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A PERILOUS ADVENTURE Each moment seemed an age to the anxious lad watching on the crest of the ridge.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The night hush had fallen upon the plain, and the very stillness oppressed him.
Utenoun
a member of the Shoshonean people of Utah and Colorado and New Mexico
From this reading He feared that he was surrounded by prowling, sharp-eared scouts from the Ute camp, and that some of them had concealed themselves on the ridge to wait for the Sioux war party.
precisely as stated
From this reading The night hush had fallen upon the plain, and the very stillness oppressed him.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading He feared that he was surrounded by prowling, sharp-eared scouts from the Ute camp, and that some of them had concealed themselves on the ridge to wait for the Sioux war party.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading He feared that he was surrounded by prowling, sharp-eared scouts from the Ute camp, and that some of them had concealed themselves on the ridge to wait for the Sioux war party.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He feared that he was surrounded by prowling, sharp-eared scouts from the Ute camp, and that some of them had concealed themselves on the ridge to wait for the Sioux war party.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading A PERILOUS ADVENTURE Each moment seemed an age to the anxious lad watching on the crest of the ridge.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He began to give way to his imagination.
