used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading HAIL A thin crescent moon hung low in the western sky.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Leland stood outside the homestead, with the bridle of an impatient horse in his hand, and talked with his wife.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Leland stood outside the homestead, with the bridle of an impatient horse in his hand, and talked with his wife.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The barrel of a Marlin rifle hung behind his shoulders, glinting fitfully when it caught the light as he moved.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
barrelnounUS /ˈbærəl/
a tube through which a bullet travels when a gun is fired
From this reading The barrel of a Marlin rifle hung behind his shoulders, glinting fitfully when it caught the light as he moved.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
bridlenounUS /ˈbraɪdəl/
headgear for a horse; includes a headstall and bit and reins to give the rider or driver control
From this reading Leland stood outside the homestead, with the bridle of an impatient horse in his hand, and talked with his wife.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading The barrel of a Marlin rifle hung behind his shoulders, glinting fitfully when it caught the light as he moved.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
crescentnounUS /ˈkresənt/
any shape resembling the curved shape of the moon in its first or last quarters
From this reading HAIL A thin crescent moon hung low in the western sky.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
fitfullyadverbUS /ˈfɪtfəli/
in a fitful manner
From this reading The barrel of a Marlin rifle hung behind his shoulders, glinting fitfully when it caught the light as he moved.
glintingadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪntɪŋ/
having brief brilliant points or flashes of light
From this reading The barrel of a Marlin rifle hung behind his shoulders, glinting fitfully when it caught the light as he moved.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
HAILverbUS /heɪl/
praise vociferously
From this reading HAIL A thin crescent moon hung low in the western sky.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Leland stood outside the homestead, with the bridle of an impatient horse in his hand, and talked with his wife.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The barrel of a Marlin rifle hung behind his shoulders, glinting fitfully when it caught the light as he moved.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Leland stood outside the homestead, with the bridle of an impatient horse in his hand, and talked with his wife.
homesteadnounUS /ˈhoʊmsted/
the home and adjacent grounds occupied by a family
From this reading Leland stood outside the homestead, with the bridle of an impatient horse in his hand, and talked with his wife.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading Leland stood outside the homestead, with the bridle of an impatient horse in his hand, and talked with his wife.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading HAIL A thin crescent moon hung low in the western sky.
restless or short-tempered under delay or opposition
From this reading Leland stood outside the homestead, with the bridle of an impatient horse in his hand, and talked with his wife.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading HAIL A thin crescent moon hung low in the western sky.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The barrel of a Marlin rifle hung behind his shoulders, glinting fitfully when it caught the light as he moved.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
Leland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leland stood outside the homestead, with the bridle of an impatient horse in his hand, and talked with his wife.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading HAIL A thin crescent moon hung low in the western sky.
MarlinnounUS /ˈmɑːrlən/
large long-jawed oceanic sport fishes; related to sailfishes and spearfishes; not completely cold-blooded i.e. able to warm their brains and eyes
From this reading The barrel of a Marlin rifle hung behind his shoulders, glinting fitfully when it caught the light as he moved.
the force of workers available
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading HAIL A thin crescent moon hung low in the western sky.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading The barrel of a Marlin rifle hung behind his shoulders, glinting fitfully when it caught the light as he moved.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Leland stood outside the homestead, with the bridle of an impatient horse in his hand, and talked with his wife.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
and nothing more
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Leland stood outside the homestead, with the bridle of an impatient horse in his hand, and talked with his wife.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading The prairie was wrapped in silent shadows.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading The barrel of a Marlin rifle hung behind his shoulders, glinting fitfully when it caught the light as he moved.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading The prairie was wrapped in silent shadows.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading The barrel of a Marlin rifle hung behind his shoulders, glinting fitfully when it caught the light as he moved.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading The prairie was wrapped in silent shadows.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading HAIL A thin crescent moon hung low in the western sky.
not in physical motion
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Leland stood outside the homestead, with the bridle of an impatient horse in his hand, and talked with his wife.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Leland stood outside the homestead, with the bridle of an impatient horse in his hand, and talked with his wife.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HAIL A thin crescent moon hung low in the western sky.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading HAIL A thin crescent moon hung low in the western sky.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
trustedadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌstɪd/
(of persons) worthy of trust or confidence
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
precisely as stated
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The prairie was wrapped in silent shadows.
look attentively
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts
From this reading HAIL A thin crescent moon hung low in the western sky.
at the time that
From this reading The barrel of a Marlin rifle hung behind his shoulders, glinting fitfully when it caught the light as he moved.
which person or people
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Leland stood outside the homestead, with the bridle of an impatient horse in his hand, and talked with his wife.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Leland stood outside the homestead, with the bridle of an impatient horse in his hand, and talked with his wife.
covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak
From this reading The prairie was wrapped in silent shadows.
