Chapter III · Prisoners

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The armed strangers were a swarthy, black-browed pair, clad in sleeveless cotton under-shirts and ragged cotton trousers of no particular hue.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The armed strangers were a swarthy, black-browed pair, clad in sleeveless cotton under-shirts and ragged cotton trousers of no particular hue.

at or in or to any place

From this reading A more villainous pair could not be found anywhere.

(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms

From this reading The armed strangers were a swarthy, black-browed pair, clad in sleeveless cotton under-shirts and ragged cotton trousers of no particular hue.

without shoes

From this reading Both wore the floppy, broadbrimmed straw hats common in the tropics, both were barefoot and carried canvas cartridge belts slung over their left shoulders.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading A more villainous pair could not be found anywhere.

plural of “belt” — endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys

From this reading Both wore the floppy, broadbrimmed straw hats common in the tropics, both were barefoot and carried canvas cartridge belts slung over their left shoulders.

a statute in draft before it becomes law

From this reading Bill dropped his suitcase and defiantly thrust his hands into the pockets of his breeches.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The armed strangers were a swarthy, black-browed pair, clad in sleeveless cotton under-shirts and ragged cotton trousers of no particular hue.

the two together, not just one

From this reading Both wore the floppy, broadbrimmed straw hats common in the tropics, both were barefoot and carried canvas cartridge belts slung over their left shoulders.

(used in the plural) trousers ending above the knee

From this reading Bill dropped his suitcase and defiantly thrust his hands into the pockets of his breeches.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Both wore the floppy, broadbrimmed straw hats common in the tropics, both were barefoot and carried canvas cartridge belts slung over their left shoulders.

a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)

From this reading Both wore the floppy, broadbrimmed straw hats common in the tropics, both were barefoot and carried canvas cartridge belts slung over their left shoulders.

inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading Both wore the floppy, broadbrimmed straw hats common in the tropics, both were barefoot and carried canvas cartridge belts slung over their left shoulders.

ammunition consisting of a cylindrical casing containing an explosive charge and a bullet; fired from a rifle or handgun

From this reading Both wore the floppy, broadbrimmed straw hats common in the tropics, both were barefoot and carried canvas cartridge belts slung over their left shoulders.

wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination

From this reading The armed strangers were a swarthy, black-browed pair, clad in sleeveless cotton under-shirts and ragged cotton trousers of no particular hue.

past form of “command” — be in command of

From this reading “Stick ’em up!” commanded the taller of the two.

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading Both wore the floppy, broadbrimmed straw hats common in the tropics, both were barefoot and carried canvas cartridge belts slung over their left shoulders.

soft silky fibers from cotton plants in their raw state

From this reading The armed strangers were a swarthy, black-browed pair, clad in sleeveless cotton under-shirts and ragged cotton trousers of no particular hue.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading A more villainous pair could not be found anywhere.

in a rebellious manner

From this reading Bill dropped his suitcase and defiantly thrust his hands into the pockets of his breeches.

inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground

From this reading Bill dropped his suitcase and defiantly thrust his hands into the pockets of his breeches.

a quad with a square body

From this reading “Stick ’em up!” commanded the taller of the two.

a small plastic magnetic disk enclosed in a stiff envelope with a radial slit; used to store data or programs for a microcomputer

From this reading Both wore the floppy, broadbrimmed straw hats common in the tropics, both were barefoot and carried canvas cartridge belts slung over their left shoulders.

set up or found

From this reading A more villainous pair could not be found anywhere.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading Bill dropped his suitcase and defiantly thrust his hands into the pockets of his breeches.

plural of “hat” — headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim

From this reading Both wore the floppy, broadbrimmed straw hats common in the tropics, both were barefoot and carried canvas cartridge belts slung over their left shoulders.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Bill dropped his suitcase and defiantly thrust his hands into the pockets of his breeches.

the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength

From this reading The armed strangers were a swarthy, black-browed pair, clad in sleeveless cotton under-shirts and ragged cotton trousers of no particular hue.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The armed strangers were a swarthy, black-browed pair, clad in sleeveless cotton under-shirts and ragged cotton trousers of no particular hue.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Bill dropped his suitcase and defiantly thrust his hands into the pockets of his breeches.

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 Both wore the floppy, broadbrimmed straw hats common in the tropics, both were barefoot and carried canvas cartridge belts slung over their left shoulders.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading A more villainous pair could not be found anywhere.

not any; not one

From this reading The armed strangers were a swarthy, black-browed pair, clad in sleeveless cotton under-shirts and ragged cotton trousers of no particular hue.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading A more villainous pair could not be found anywhere.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The armed strangers were a swarthy, black-browed pair, clad in sleeveless cotton under-shirts and ragged cotton trousers of no particular hue.

above and across; more than

From this reading Both wore the floppy, broadbrimmed straw hats common in the tropics, both were barefoot and carried canvas cartridge belts slung over their left shoulders.

a set of two similar things considered as a unit

From this reading The armed strangers were a swarthy, black-browed pair, clad in sleeveless cotton under-shirts and ragged cotton trousers of no particular hue.

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading The armed strangers were a swarthy, black-browed pair, clad in sleeveless cotton under-shirts and ragged cotton trousers of no particular hue.

plural of “pocket” — a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles

From this reading Bill dropped his suitcase and defiantly thrust his hands into the pockets of his breeches.

being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn

From this reading The armed strangers were a swarthy, black-browed pair, clad in sleeveless cotton under-shirts and ragged cotton trousers of no particular hue.

plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm

From this reading Both wore the floppy, broadbrimmed straw hats common in the tropics, both were barefoot and carried canvas cartridge belts slung over their left shoulders.

having no sleeves

From this reading The armed strangers were a swarthy, black-browed pair, clad in sleeveless cotton under-shirts and ragged cotton trousers of no particular hue.

inflected form of “sling” — hurl as if with a sling

From this reading Both wore the floppy, broadbrimmed straw hats common in the tropics, both were barefoot and carried canvas cartridge belts slung over their left shoulders.

put, fix, force, or implant

From this reading “Stick ’em up!” commanded the taller of the two.

plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading The armed strangers were a swarthy, black-browed pair, clad in sleeveless cotton under-shirts and ragged cotton trousers of no particular hue.

plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder

From this reading Both wore the floppy, broadbrimmed straw hats common in the tropics, both were barefoot and carried canvas cartridge belts slung over their left shoulders.

a portable rectangular container for carrying clothes

From this reading Bill dropped his suitcase and defiantly thrust his hands into the pockets of his breeches.

naturally having skin of a dark color

From this reading The armed strangers were a swarthy, black-browed pair, clad in sleeveless cotton under-shirts and ragged cotton trousers of no particular hue.

comparative of “tall” — great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading “Stick ’em up!” commanded the taller of the two.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The armed strangers were a swarthy, black-browed pair, clad in sleeveless cotton under-shirts and ragged cotton trousers of no particular hue.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Both wore the floppy, broadbrimmed straw hats common in the tropics, both were barefoot and carried canvas cartridge belts slung over their left shoulders.

push forcefully

From this reading Bill dropped his suitcase and defiantly thrust his hands into the pockets of his breeches.

the part of the Earth's surface between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn; characterized by a hot climate

From this reading Both wore the floppy, broadbrimmed straw hats common in the tropics, both were barefoot and carried canvas cartridge belts slung over their left shoulders.

(usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle, covering each leg separately

From this reading The armed strangers were a swarthy, black-browed pair, clad in sleeveless cotton under-shirts and ragged cotton trousers of no particular hue.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading “Stick ’em up!” commanded the taller of the two.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The armed strangers were a swarthy, black-browed pair, clad in sleeveless cotton under-shirts and ragged cotton trousers of no particular hue.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading “Stick ’em up!” commanded the taller of the two.

extremely wicked

From this reading A more villainous pair could not be found anywhere.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The armed strangers were a swarthy, black-browed pair, clad in sleeveless cotton under-shirts and ragged cotton trousers of no particular hue.

inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in

From this reading Both wore the floppy, broadbrimmed straw hats common in the tropics, both were barefoot and carried canvas cartridge belts slung over their left shoulders.