used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
highly skilled
From this reading Certainly his mission could be accomplished more quickly on horseback than on foot.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He started gently toward it, holding out his hand and speaking soothingly; but the cautious animal tossed its head and began to move away.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Why not make use of this animal if he could catch it?
ARRESTEDverbUS /ərˈestɪd/
past form of “arrest” — take into custody
From this reading ARRESTED ON SUSPICION.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He started gently toward it, holding out his hand and speaking soothingly; but the cautious animal tossed its head and began to move away.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Certainly his mission could be accomplished more quickly on horseback than on foot.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He started gently toward it, holding out his hand and speaking soothingly; but the cautious animal tossed its head and began to move away.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He started gently toward it, holding out his hand and speaking soothingly; but the cautious animal tossed its head and began to move away.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Why not make use of this animal if he could catch it?
cautiousadjectiveUS /ˈkɔːʃəs/
showing careful forethought
From this reading He started gently toward it, holding out his hand and speaking soothingly; but the cautious animal tossed its head and began to move away.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Certainly his mission could be accomplished more quickly on horseback than on foot.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Why not make use of this animal if he could catch it?
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Certainly his mission could be accomplished more quickly on horseback than on foot.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
in a gradual manner
From this reading He started gently toward it, holding out his hand and speaking soothingly; but the cautious animal tossed its head and began to move away.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
haltverbUS /hɔːlt/
cause to stop
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He started gently toward it, holding out his hand and speaking soothingly; but the cautious animal tossed its head and began to move away.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Why not make use of this animal if he could catch it?
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
the act of retaining something
From this reading He started gently toward it, holding out his hand and speaking soothingly; but the cautious animal tossed its head and began to move away.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
horsebacknounUS /ˈhɔːrsbæk/
the back of a horse
From this reading Certainly his mission could be accomplished more quickly on horseback than on foot.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Why not make use of this animal if he could catch it?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Why not make use of this animal if he could catch it?
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He started gently toward it, holding out his hand and speaking soothingly; but the cautious animal tossed its head and began to move away.
a boy or man
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
held up in the air
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
engage in
From this reading Why not make use of this animal if he could catch it?
an organization of missionaries in a foreign land sent to carry on religious work
From this reading Certainly his mission could be accomplished more quickly on horseback than on foot.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Certainly his mission could be accomplished more quickly on horseback than on foot.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He started gently toward it, holding out his hand and speaking soothingly; but the cautious animal tossed its head and began to move away.
nibbleverbUS /ˈnɪbəl/
bite off very small pieces
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Why not make use of this animal if he could catch it?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Why not make use of this animal if he could catch it?
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ARRESTED ON SUSPICION.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He started gently toward it, holding out his hand and speaking soothingly; but the cautious animal tossed its head and began to move away.
questnounUS /kwest/
a search for an alternative that meets cognitive criteria
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
with speed
From this reading Certainly his mission could be accomplished more quickly on horseback than on foot.
riderless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
roadsidenounUS /ˈroʊdsaɪd/
edge of a way or road or path
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
RodnounUS /rɑːd/
a long thin implement made of metal or wood
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
snortverbUS /snɔːrt/
indicate contempt by breathing noisily and forcefully through the nose
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
soothinglyadverbUS /ˈsuːðɪŋli/
in a soothing manner
From this reading He started gently toward it, holding out his hand and speaking soothingly; but the cautious animal tossed its head and began to move away.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading He started gently toward it, holding out his hand and speaking soothingly; but the cautious animal tossed its head and began to move away.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
an impression that something might be the case
From this reading ARRESTED ON SUSPICION.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Certainly his mission could be accomplished more quickly on horseback than on foot.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Why not make use of this animal if he could catch it?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
tossedverbUS /tɔːst/
past form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading He started gently toward it, holding out his hand and speaking soothingly; but the cautious animal tossed its head and began to move away.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading He started gently toward it, holding out his hand and speaking soothingly; but the cautious animal tossed its head and began to move away.
the act of using
From this reading Why not make use of this animal if he could catch it?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why not make use of this animal if he could catch it?
in the company of; together with
From this reading As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that brought the lad to a sudden halt.
