Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

having companions or an escort

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

plural of “accusation” — a formal charge of wrongdoing brought against a person; the act of imputing blame or guilt

From this reading The Missourian shook his head in reply to the accusations of his companion.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

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

From this reading "Thar ain't no use o' gittin' riled," replied Schoolcraft.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading "An' you lose heem--lak theese!" the sharp snap of his fingers denoted magic.

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

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

a small vessel for travel on water

From this reading "But he was on thee boat weeth us!" exclaimed the other.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "But he was on thee boat weeth us!" exclaimed the other.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

past form of “denote” — be a sign or indication of

From this reading "An' you lose heem--lak theese!" the sharp snap of his fingers denoted magic.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

easily excited

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy

From this reading "But he was on thee boat weeth us!" exclaimed the other.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)

From this reading "An' you lose heem--lak theese!" the sharp snap of his fingers denoted magic.

the time of life between 40 and 50

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

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

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

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

From this reading "Thar ain't no use o' gittin' riled," replied Schoolcraft.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "But he was on thee boat weeth us!" exclaimed the other.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading The Missourian shook his head in reply to the accusations of his companion.

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

From this reading "An' you lose heem--lak theese!" the sharp snap of his fingers denoted magic.

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

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

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

From this reading The Missourian shook his head in reply to the accusations of his companion.

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

From this reading "An' you lose heem--lak theese!" the sharp snap of his fingers denoted magic.

tall and thin and having long slender limbs

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

possessive form of “latter” — the second of two or the second mentioned of two

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

the act of hearing attentively

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

migratory grasshoppers of warm regions having short antennae

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense

From this reading "An' you lose heem--lak theese!" the sharp snap of his fingers denoted magic.

United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight champion for 12 years (1914-1981)

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

any art that invokes supernatural powers

From this reading "An' you lose heem--lak theese!" the sharp snap of his fingers denoted magic.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

a native or inhabitant of Mexico

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

a midwestern state in central United States; a border state during the American Civil War, Missouri was admitted to the Confederacy without actually seceding from the Union

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

a native or resident of Missouri

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

not any; not one

From this reading "Thar ain't no use o' gittin' riled," replied Schoolcraft.

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading "Thar ain't no use o' gittin' riled," replied Schoolcraft.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading "But he was on thee boat weeth us!" exclaimed the other.

in deplorable condition

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading "Thar ain't no use o' gittin' riled," replied Schoolcraft.

a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation

From this reading The Missourian shook his head in reply to the accusations of his companion.

aroused to impatience or anger

From this reading "Thar ain't no use o' gittin' riled," replied Schoolcraft.

a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

United States geologist and ethnologist and explorer who discovered the source of the Mississippi River (1793-1864)

From this reading "Thar ain't no use o' gittin' riled," replied Schoolcraft.

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading "An' you lose heem--lak theese!" the sharp snap of his fingers denoted magic.

a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment

From this reading The Missourian shook his head in reply to the accusations of his companion.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

being of delicate or slender build

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone

From this reading "An' you lose heem--lak theese!" the sharp snap of his fingers denoted magic.

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

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

in a sullen manner

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

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

From this reading "Thar ain't no use o' gittin' riled," replied Schoolcraft.

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

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person

From this reading "But he was on thee boat weeth us!" exclaimed the other.

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

From this reading "An' you lose heem--lak theese!" the sharp snap of his fingers denoted magic.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

a heavy rain

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

in the direction of

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

someone who purchases and maintains an inventory of goods to be sold

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "But he was on thee boat weeth us!" exclaimed the other.

the act of using

From this reading "Thar ain't no use o' gittin' riled," replied Schoolcraft.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

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

From this reading "But he was on thee boat weeth us!" exclaimed the other.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

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

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

the words that are spoken

From this reading The tall, lanky Missourian leaning against the corner of a ramshackle saloon on Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri--the St. Louis of the early forties--turned his whiskey-marked face toward his companion, a short and slender Mexican trader, sullenly listening to the latter's torrent of words, which was accompanied by many and excitable gesticulations.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "An' you lose heem--lak theese!" the sharp snap of his fingers denoted magic.