Chapter XV

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

From this reading “I seen you comin’, and I lay low and was goin’ ter let you pass me by, sah, only I seen yer face, and know’d yer were a good man.

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

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

From this reading “I’s mighty near starved ter death, an’ I’d died soon ef I hadn’t had you find me, boss,” was the answer.

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

From this reading “Well, my poor fellow, who and what are you?” asked Buffalo Bill, as he dismounted and stood before the vagabond negro.

react verbally

From this reading “I’s mighty near starved ter death, an’ I’d died soon ef I hadn’t had you find me, boss,” was the answer.

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

From this reading “Well, my poor fellow, who and what are you?” asked Buffalo Bill, as he dismounted and stood before the vagabond negro.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading “Well, my poor fellow, who and what are you?” asked Buffalo Bill, as he dismounted and stood before the vagabond negro.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading “Well, my poor fellow, who and what are you?” asked Buffalo Bill, as he dismounted and stood before the vagabond negro.

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Well, my poor fellow, who and what are you?” asked Buffalo Bill, as he dismounted and stood before the vagabond negro.

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

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

a statute in draft before it becomes law

From this reading “Well, my poor fellow, who and what are you?” asked Buffalo Bill, as he dismounted and stood before the vagabond negro.

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

a person who exercises control over workers

From this reading “I’s mighty near starved ter death, an’ I’d died soon ef I hadn’t had you find me, boss,” was the answer.

large shaggy-haired brown bison of North American plains

From this reading “Well, my poor fellow, who and what are you?” asked Buffalo Bill, as he dismounted and stood before the vagabond negro.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading “I seen you comin’, and I lay low and was goin’ ter let you pass me by, sah, only I seen yer face, and know’d yer were a good man.

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

From this reading “I seen you comin’, and I lay low and was goin’ ter let you pass me by, sah, only I seen yer face, and know’d yer were a good man.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

a digital tape recording of sound

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading “I’s mighty near starved ter death, an’ I’d died soon ef I hadn’t had you find me, boss,” was the answer.

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

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading “I’s mighty near starved ter death, an’ I’d died soon ef I hadn’t had you find me, boss,” was the answer.

(Roman mythology) god of the underworld; counterpart of Greek Hades

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

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

From this reading “Well, my poor fellow, who and what are you?” asked Buffalo Bill, as he dismounted and stood before the vagabond negro.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

take in solid food

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

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

From this reading “I’s mighty near starved ter death, an’ I’d died soon ef I hadn’t had you find me, boss,” was the answer.

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

From this reading “I seen you comin’, and I lay low and was goin’ ter let you pass me by, sah, only I seen yer face, and know’d yer were a good man.

a boy or man

From this reading “Well, my poor fellow, who and what are you?” asked Buffalo Bill, as he dismounted and stood before the vagabond negro.

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

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading “I’s mighty near starved ter death, an’ I’d died soon ef I hadn’t had you find me, boss,” was the answer.

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

From this reading “I seen you comin’, and I lay low and was goin’ ter let you pass me by, sah, only I seen yer face, and know’d yer were a good man.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading “I seen you comin’, and I lay low and was goin’ ter let you pass me by, sah, only I seen yer face, and know’d yer were a good man.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading “I’s mighty near starved ter death, an’ I’d died soon ef I hadn’t had you find me, boss,” was the answer.

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

From this reading “I’s mighty near starved ter death, an’ I’d died soon ef I hadn’t had you find me, boss,” was the answer.

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

From this reading “Well, my poor fellow, who and what are you?” asked Buffalo Bill, as he dismounted and stood before the vagabond negro.

solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “I’s mighty near starved ter death, an’ I’d died soon ef I hadn’t had you find me, boss,” was the answer.

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

From this reading “I’s mighty near starved ter death, an’ I’d died soon ef I hadn’t had you find me, boss,” was the answer.

possessive form of “i” — a nonmetallic element belonging to the halogens; used especially in medicine and photography and in dyes; occurs naturally only in combination in small quantities (as in sea water or rocks)

From this reading “I’s mighty near starved ter death, an’ I’d died soon ef I hadn’t had you find me, boss,” was the answer.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

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

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

(slang) offensive term for Native Americans

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

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

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

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

From this reading “I seen you comin’, and I lay low and was goin’ ter let you pass me by, sah, only I seen yer face, and know’d yer were a good man.

the collection of rules imposed by authority

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading “I seen you comin’, and I lay low and was goin’ ter let you pass me by, sah, only I seen yer face, and know’d yer were a good man.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “I seen you comin’, and I lay low and was goin’ ter let you pass me by, sah, only I seen yer face, and know’d yer were a good man.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading “I seen you comin’, and I lay low and was goin’ ter let you pass me by, sah, only I seen yer face, and know’d yer were a good man.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading “I seen you comin’, and I lay low and was goin’ ter let you pass me by, sah, only I seen yer face, and know’d yer were a good man.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “I’s mighty near starved ter death, an’ I’d died soon ef I hadn’t had you find me, boss,” was the answer.

the force of workers available

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

a person who carries a message

From this reading THE NEGRO MESSENGER.

having or showing great strength or force or intensity

From this reading “I’s mighty near starved ter death, an’ I’d died soon ef I hadn’t had you find me, boss,” was the answer.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “Well, my poor fellow, who and what are you?” asked Buffalo Bill, as he dismounted and stood before the vagabond negro.

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

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading “I’s mighty near starved ter death, an’ I’d died soon ef I hadn’t had you find me, boss,” was the answer.

a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today

From this reading THE NEGRO MESSENGER.

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 “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

a major river of western Siberia; flows generally northward and westward to the Gulf of Ob and the Kara Sea

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

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

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

and nothing more

From this reading “I seen you comin’, and I lay low and was goin’ ter let you pass me by, sah, only I seen yer face, and know’d yer were a good man.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

go across or through

From this reading “I seen you comin’, and I lay low and was goin’ ter let you pass me by, sah, only I seen yer face, and know’d yer were a good man.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading “Well, my poor fellow, who and what are you?” asked Buffalo Bill, as he dismounted and stood before the vagabond negro.

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

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

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

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

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

From this reading “I seen you comin’, and I lay low and was goin’ ter let you pass me by, sah, only I seen yer face, and know’d yer were a good man.

express in words

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading “I seen you comin’, and I lay low and was goin’ ter let you pass me by, sah, only I seen yer face, and know’d yer were a good man.

in the near future

From this reading “I’s mighty near starved ter death, an’ I’d died soon ef I hadn’t had you find me, boss,” was the answer.

suffering from lack of food

From this reading “I’s mighty near starved ter death, an’ I’d died soon ef I hadn’t had you find me, boss,” was the answer.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading “Well, my poor fellow, who and what are you?” asked Buffalo Bill, as he dismounted and stood before the vagabond negro.

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

From this reading “I’s mighty near starved ter death, an’ I’d died soon ef I hadn’t had you find me, boss,” was the answer.

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

From this reading THE NEGRO MESSENGER.

anything that resembles a vagabond in having no fixed place

From this reading “Well, my poor fellow, who and what are you?” asked Buffalo Bill, as he dismounted and stood before the vagabond negro.

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

From this reading “I’s mighty near starved ter death, an’ I’d died soon ef I hadn’t had you find me, boss,” was the answer.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading “Well, my poor fellow, who and what are you?” asked Buffalo Bill, as he dismounted and stood before the vagabond negro.

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

From this reading “I seen you comin’, and I lay low and was goin’ ter let you pass me by, sah, only I seen yer face, and know’d yer were a good man.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “Well, my poor fellow, who and what are you?” asked Buffalo Bill, as he dismounted and stood before the vagabond negro.

a Caucasian

From this reading “If you had been an Injun, sah, or one ob dem bad white men I seen in dis country, I’d ’a’ jist pulled my gun on yer and got yer horse an’ rashuns ter eat, fer de Good Book do say dat preservin’ o’ one’s life am de bestest law o’ natur’, sah.”

which person or people

From this reading “Well, my poor fellow, who and what are you?” asked Buffalo Bill, as he dismounted and stood before the vagabond negro.

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

From this reading “I seen you comin’, and I lay low and was goin’ ter let you pass me by, sah, only I seen yer face, and know’d yer were a good man.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Well, my poor fellow, who and what are you?” asked Buffalo Bill, as he dismounted and stood before the vagabond negro.