used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.
achieveverbUS /əˈtʃiːv/
to gain with effort
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
(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 Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "The blank-blanked greenhorn!" cursed Hardy Atkins, pacing to and fro and gazing at the hulk of Dunbar.
Atkins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The blank-blanked greenhorn!" cursed Hardy Atkins, pacing to and fro and gazing at the hulk of Dunbar.
BatnounUS /bæt/
nocturnal mouselike mammal with forelimbs modified to form membranous wings and anatomical adaptations for echolocation by which they navigate
From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
blamingverbUS /ˈbleɪmɪŋ/
-ing form of “blame” — put or pin the blame on
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
blank-blanked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The blank-blanked greenhorn!" cursed Hardy Atkins, pacing to and fro and gazing at the hulk of Dunbar.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.
BowlesverbUS /boʊlz/
third-person singular of “bowl” — roll (a ball)
From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.
bronks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
carpet-beater
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
corporealadjective
having material or physical form or substance
From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.
cursedadjectiveUS /kɜːrst/
deserving a curse; sometimes used as an intensifier
From this reading "The blank-blanked greenhorn!" cursed Hardy Atkins, pacing to and fro and gazing at the hulk of Dunbar.
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.
dirtnounUS /dɜːrt/
the part of the earth's surface consisting of humus and disintegrated rock
From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.
Dunbar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The blank-blanked greenhorn!" cursed Hardy Atkins, pacing to and fro and gazing at the hulk of Dunbar.
the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
enclose in or as if in a frame
From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The blank-blanked greenhorn!" cursed Hardy Atkins, pacing to and fro and gazing at the hulk of Dunbar.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading "The blank-blanked greenhorn!" cursed Hardy Atkins, pacing to and fro and gazing at the hulk of Dunbar.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.
greenhornnoun
an awkward and inexperienced youth
From this reading "The blank-blanked greenhorn!" cursed Hardy Atkins, pacing to and fro and gazing at the hulk of Dunbar.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.
hard-earned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
HardyadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdi/
having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
From this reading "The blank-blanked greenhorn!" cursed Hardy Atkins, pacing to and fro and gazing at the hulk of Dunbar.
hawsenoun
the hole that an anchor rope passes through
From this reading "I _tol'_ 'im to keep off that hawse!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
hulknounUS /hʌlk/
a very large person; impressive in size or qualities
From this reading "The blank-blanked greenhorn!" cursed Hardy Atkins, pacing to and fro and gazing at the hulk of Dunbar.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I _tol'_ 'im to keep off that hawse!
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.
illusionsnounUS /ˌɪˈluːʒənz/
plural of “illusion” — an erroneous mental representation
From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.
im
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I _tol'_ 'im to keep off that hawse!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading "I _tol'_ 'im to keep off that hawse!
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
used to form the superlative
From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "I _tol'_ 'im to keep off that hawse!
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.
pacingnounUS /ˈpeɪsɪŋ/
(music) the speed at which a composition is to be played
From this reading "The blank-blanked greenhorn!" cursed Hardy Atkins, pacing to and fro and gazing at the hulk of Dunbar.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.
characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.
the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
shakenadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪkən/
disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock
From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.
tenderfootnoun
an inexperienced person (especially someone inexperienced in outdoor living)
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I _tol'_ 'im to keep off that hawse!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading His corporeal frame felt as if it had been passed through a carpet-beater, and he had lost some of his most precious illusions.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
tol
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I _tol'_ 'im to keep off that hawse!
plural of “trouble” — a source of difficulty
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
at the time that
From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)
From this reading THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY When Bat Wing Bowles got up out of the dirt he was shaken in body and spirit.
wipeverbUS /waɪp/
rub with a circular motion
From this reading Certainly, if there was any way by which a tenderfoot might hope to achieve a little hard-earned fame in the Far West, it was not by riding bronks; and now, before he could wipe the blood from his nose, they were blaming him for all their troubles.
