used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the manner of a Gringo who first passes the Mexican frontier, I walked cautiously, glancing behind me from time to time, anticipating hostility, if not actual violence.
presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
From this reading In the manner of a Gringo who first passes the Mexican frontier, I walked cautiously, glancing behind me from time to time, anticipating hostility, if not actual violence.
adobenounUS /əˈdoʊbi/
the clay from which adobe bricks are made
From this reading In the dusk of early morning the low, flat-roofed adobe city of Nogales assumed all the forbidding qualities of the fictional Mexico.
(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 In the dusk of early morning the low, flat-roofed adobe city of Nogales assumed all the forbidding qualities of the fictional Mexico.
anticipatingverbUS /ænˈtɪsəpeɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “anticipate” — regard something as probable or likely
From this reading In the manner of a Gringo who first passes the Mexican frontier, I walked cautiously, glancing behind me from time to time, anticipating hostility, if not actual violence.
adopted in order to deceive
From this reading In the dusk of early morning the low, flat-roofed adobe city of Nogales assumed all the forbidding qualities of the fictional Mexico.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I I crossed the border at daybreak.
BANDITSnounUS /ˈbændəts/
plural of “bandit” — an armed thief who is (usually) a member of a band
From this reading BANDITS!
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading In the manner of a Gringo who first passes the Mexican frontier, I walked cautiously, glancing behind me from time to time, anticipating hostility, if not actual violence.
bordernounUS /ˈbɔːrdər/
a line that indicates a boundary
From this reading I I crossed the border at daybreak.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the leisurely immigration official was polite.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading In the manner of a Gringo who first passes the Mexican frontier, I walked cautiously, glancing behind me from time to time, anticipating hostility, if not actual violence.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading In the dusk of early morning the low, flat-roofed adobe city of Nogales assumed all the forbidding qualities of the fictional Mexico.
placed crosswise
From this reading I I crossed the border at daybreak.
daybreaknounUS /ˈdeɪbreɪk/
the first light of day
From this reading I I crossed the border at daybreak.
dusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading In the dusk of early morning the low, flat-roofed adobe city of Nogales assumed all the forbidding qualities of the fictional Mexico.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading In the dusk of early morning the low, flat-roofed adobe city of Nogales assumed all the forbidding qualities of the fictional Mexico.
fictionaladjectiveUS /ˈfɪkʃənəl/
related to or involving literary fiction
From this reading In the dusk of early morning the low, flat-roofed adobe city of Nogales assumed all the forbidding qualities of the fictional Mexico.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading In the manner of a Gringo who first passes the Mexican frontier, I walked cautiously, glancing behind me from time to time, anticipating hostility, if not actual violence.
flat-roofed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the dusk of early morning the low, flat-roofed adobe city of Nogales assumed all the forbidding qualities of the fictional Mexico.
forbiddingadjectiveUS /fərˈbɪdɪŋ/
harshly uninviting or formidable in manner or appearance
From this reading In the dusk of early morning the low, flat-roofed adobe city of Nogales assumed all the forbidding qualities of the fictional Mexico.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In the manner of a Gringo who first passes the Mexican frontier, I walked cautiously, glancing behind me from time to time, anticipating hostility, if not actual violence.
frontiernounUS /frənˈtɪr/
a wilderness at the edge of a settled area of a country
From this reading In the manner of a Gringo who first passes the Mexican frontier, I walked cautiously, glancing behind me from time to time, anticipating hostility, if not actual violence.
-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading In the manner of a Gringo who first passes the Mexican frontier, I walked cautiously, glancing behind me from time to time, anticipating hostility, if not actual violence.
GringonounUS /ˈɡrɪŋɡoʊ/
a Latin American (disparaging) term for foreigners (especially Americans and Englishmen)
From this reading In the manner of a Gringo who first passes the Mexican frontier, I walked cautiously, glancing behind me from time to time, anticipating hostility, if not actual violence.
hostilitynounUS /hɑːˈstɪləti/
a hostile (very unfriendly) disposition
From this reading In the manner of a Gringo who first passes the Mexican frontier, I walked cautiously, glancing behind me from time to time, anticipating hostility, if not actual violence.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I I crossed the border at daybreak.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading In the manner of a Gringo who first passes the Mexican frontier, I walked cautiously, glancing behind me from time to time, anticipating hostility, if not actual violence.
immigrationnounUS /ˌɪməˈɡreɪʃən/
migration into a place (especially migration to a country of which you are not a native in order to settle there)
From this reading But the leisurely immigration official was polite.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the manner of a Gringo who first passes the Mexican frontier, I walked cautiously, glancing behind me from time to time, anticipating hostility, if not actual violence.
leisurelyadverbUS /ˈliːzərli/
in an unhurried way or at one's convenience
From this reading But the leisurely immigration official was polite.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading In the dusk of early morning the low, flat-roofed adobe city of Nogales assumed all the forbidding qualities of the fictional Mexico.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading In the manner of a Gringo who first passes the Mexican frontier, I walked cautiously, glancing behind me from time to time, anticipating hostility, if not actual violence.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In the manner of a Gringo who first passes the Mexican frontier, I walked cautiously, glancing behind me from time to time, anticipating hostility, if not actual violence.
MexicannounUS /ˈmeksəkən/
a native or inhabitant of Mexico
From this reading In the manner of a Gringo who first passes the Mexican frontier, I walked cautiously, glancing behind me from time to time, anticipating hostility, if not actual violence.
MexiconounUS /ˈmeksəkoʊ/
a republic in southern North America; became independent from Spain in 1810
From this reading In the dusk of early morning the low, flat-roofed adobe city of Nogales assumed all the forbidding qualities of the fictional Mexico.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading In the dusk of early morning the low, flat-roofed adobe city of Nogales assumed all the forbidding qualities of the fictional Mexico.
NogalesnounUS /noʊˈɡɑːles/
a town in Arizona on the Mexican border opposite Nogales, Mexico
From this reading In the dusk of early morning the low, flat-roofed adobe city of Nogales assumed all the forbidding qualities of the fictional Mexico.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In the manner of a Gringo who first passes the Mexican frontier, I walked cautiously, glancing behind me from time to time, anticipating hostility, if not actual violence.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the manner of a Gringo who first passes the Mexican frontier, I walked cautiously, glancing behind me from time to time, anticipating hostility, if not actual violence.
having official authority or sanction
From this reading But the leisurely immigration official was polite.
passesnounUS /ˈpæsəz/
plural of “pass” — (baseball) an advance to first base by a batter who receives four balls
From this reading In the manner of a Gringo who first passes the Mexican frontier, I walked cautiously, glancing behind me from time to time, anticipating hostility, if not actual violence.
politeadjectiveUS /pəˈlaɪt/
showing regard for others in manners, speech, behavior, etc.
From this reading But the leisurely immigration official was polite.
plural of “quality” — an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
From this reading In the dusk of early morning the low, flat-roofed adobe city of Nogales assumed all the forbidding qualities of the fictional Mexico.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I I crossed the border at daybreak.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading In the manner of a Gringo who first passes the Mexican frontier, I walked cautiously, glancing behind me from time to time, anticipating hostility, if not actual violence.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the manner of a Gringo who first passes the Mexican frontier, I walked cautiously, glancing behind me from time to time, anticipating hostility, if not actual violence.
an act of aggression (as one against a person who resists)
From this reading In the manner of a Gringo who first passes the Mexican frontier, I walked cautiously, glancing behind me from time to time, anticipating hostility, if not actual violence.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading In the manner of a Gringo who first passes the Mexican frontier, I walked cautiously, glancing behind me from time to time, anticipating hostility, if not actual violence.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the leisurely immigration official was polite.
which person or people
From this reading In the manner of a Gringo who first passes the Mexican frontier, I walked cautiously, glancing behind me from time to time, anticipating hostility, if not actual violence.
