used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CAPTURE AND AN ESCAPE.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
in addition
From this reading Pawnee Bill and Nomad also scanned the suspected points, and saw nothing out of the way.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A CAPTURE AND AN ESCAPE.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A CAPTURE AND AN ESCAPE.
any thing at all
From this reading He brought out his field glasses and surveyed the sides of the hill and the pass as well as he could, without discovering anything.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He brought out his field glasses and surveyed the sides of the hill and the pass as well as he could, without discovering anything.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading He brought out his field glasses and surveyed the sides of the hill and the pass as well as he could, without discovering anything.
BuffalonounUS /ˈbʌfəloʊ/
large shaggy-haired brown bison of North American plains
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “They were in a great hurry here,” he said, “and I suppose they went right on; but, just the same, that looks too favorable for a trap, and I think we’ll investigate it.”
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
CAPTUREverbUS /ˈkæptʃər/
succeed in representing or expressing something intangible
From this reading A CAPTURE AND AN ESCAPE.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He brought out his field glasses and surveyed the sides of the hill and the pass as well as he could, without discovering anything.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
discoveringverbUS /dɪˈskʌvərɪŋ/
-ing form of “discover” — discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading He brought out his field glasses and surveyed the sides of the hill and the pass as well as he could, without discovering anything.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading A CAPTURE AND AN ESCAPE.
favorableadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪvərəbəl/
encouraging or approving or pleasing
From this reading “They were in a great hurry here,” he said, “and I suppose they went right on; but, just the same, that looks too favorable for a trap, and I think we’ll investigate it.”
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading He brought out his field glasses and surveyed the sides of the hill and the pass as well as he could, without discovering anything.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision
From this reading He brought out his field glasses and surveyed the sides of the hill and the pass as well as he could, without discovering anything.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading “They were in a great hurry here,” he said, “and I suppose they went right on; but, just the same, that looks too favorable for a trap, and I think we’ll investigate it.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “They were in a great hurry here,” he said, “and I suppose they went right on; but, just the same, that looks too favorable for a trap, and I think we’ll investigate it.”
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He brought out his field glasses and surveyed the sides of the hill and the pass as well as he could, without discovering anything.
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading “They were in a great hurry here,” he said, “and I suppose they went right on; but, just the same, that looks too favorable for a trap, and I think we’ll investigate it.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “They were in a great hurry here,” he said, “and I suppose they went right on; but, just the same, that looks too favorable for a trap, and I think we’ll investigate it.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
investigateverbUS /ˌɪnˈvestəɡeɪt/
investigate scientifically
From this reading “They were in a great hurry here,” he said, “and I suppose they went right on; but, just the same, that looks too favorable for a trap, and I think we’ll investigate it.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “They were in a great hurry here,” he said, “and I suppose they went right on; but, just the same, that looks too favorable for a trap, and I think we’ll investigate it.”
and nothing more
From this reading “They were in a great hurry here,” he said, “and I suppose they went right on; but, just the same, that looks too favorable for a trap, and I think we’ll investigate it.”
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading “They were in a great hurry here,” he said, “and I suppose they went right on; but, just the same, that looks too favorable for a trap, and I think we’ll investigate it.”
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
NomadnounUS /ˈnoʊmæd/
a member of a people who have no permanent home but move about according to the seasons
From this reading Pawnee Bill and Nomad also scanned the suspected points, and saw nothing out of the way.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Pawnee Bill and Nomad also scanned the suspected points, and saw nothing out of the way.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “They were in a great hurry here,” he said, “and I suppose they went right on; but, just the same, that looks too favorable for a trap, and I think we’ll investigate it.”
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He brought out his field glasses and surveyed the sides of the hill and the pass as well as he could, without discovering anything.
outlawsnounUS /ˈaʊtlɔːz/
plural of “outlaw” — someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
go across or through
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
PawneenounUS /ˈpɔːˈniː/
a member of the Pawnee nation formerly living in Nebraska and Kansas but now largely in Oklahoma
From this reading Pawnee Bill and Nomad also scanned the suspected points, and saw nothing out of the way.
plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Pawnee Bill and Nomad also scanned the suspected points, and saw nothing out of the way.
precisely, exactly
From this reading “They were in a great hurry here,” he said, “and I suppose they went right on; but, just the same, that looks too favorable for a trap, and I think we’ll investigate it.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “They were in a great hurry here,” he said, “and I suppose they went right on; but, just the same, that looks too favorable for a trap, and I think we’ll investigate it.”
Identical; not different.
From this reading “They were in a great hurry here,” he said, “and I suppose they went right on; but, just the same, that looks too favorable for a trap, and I think we’ll investigate it.”
cut with a saw
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
scannedverbUS /skænd/
inflected form of “scan” — examine minutely or intensely
From this reading Pawnee Bill and Nomad also scanned the suspected points, and saw nothing out of the way.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading He brought out his field glasses and surveyed the sides of the hill and the pass as well as he could, without discovering anything.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
express a supposition
From this reading “They were in a great hurry here,” he said, “and I suppose they went right on; but, just the same, that looks too favorable for a trap, and I think we’ll investigate it.”
surveyedverbUS /sərˈveɪd/
past form of “survey” — consider in a comprehensive way
From this reading He brought out his field glasses and surveyed the sides of the hill and the pass as well as he could, without discovering anything.
believed likely
From this reading Pawnee Bill and Nomad also scanned the suspected points, and saw nothing out of the way.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “They were in a great hurry here,” he said, “and I suppose they went right on; but, just the same, that looks too favorable for a trap, and I think we’ll investigate it.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “They were in a great hurry here,” he said, “and I suppose they went right on; but, just the same, that looks too favorable for a trap, and I think we’ll investigate it.”
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “They were in a great hurry here,” he said, “and I suppose they went right on; but, just the same, that looks too favorable for a trap, and I think we’ll investigate it.”
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading “They were in a great hurry here,” he said, “and I suppose they went right on; but, just the same, that looks too favorable for a trap, and I think we’ll investigate it.”
trapnounUS /træp/
a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
From this reading “They were in a great hurry here,” he said, “and I suppose they went right on; but, just the same, that looks too favorable for a trap, and I think we’ll investigate it.”
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
waryadjectiveUS /ˈweri/
marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Pawnee Bill and Nomad also scanned the suspected points, and saw nothing out of the way.
we'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “They were in a great hurry here,” he said, “and I suppose they went right on; but, just the same, that looks too favorable for a trap, and I think we’ll investigate it.”
(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 He brought out his field glasses and surveyed the sides of the hill and the pass as well as he could, without discovering anything.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “They were in a great hurry here,” he said, “and I suppose they went right on; but, just the same, that looks too favorable for a trap, and I think we’ll investigate it.”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “They were in a great hurry here,” he said, “and I suppose they went right on; but, just the same, that looks too favorable for a trap, and I think we’ll investigate it.”
at the time that
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
in or at the place that
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When Buffalo Bill came in sight of the hill where the outlaws lay waiting for him, and saw the narrow pass through which he must go, he stopped, for he was wary and alert to discover signs of danger.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He brought out his field glasses and surveyed the sides of the hill and the pass as well as he could, without discovering anything.
