used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A RACE IN THE MOONLIGHT Now through waving grass up to their knees, now through stretches of sage brush the hunters rode.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
acresnounUS /ˈeɪkərz/
extensive landed property (especially in the country) retained by the owner for his own use
From this reading "No. We have a thousand acres, more or less.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Do you own so much land?" asked Larry of Mr. Wilder.
past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
biggestadjectiveUS /ˈbɪɡəst/
superlative of “big” — above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
bottomsnounUS /ˈbɑːtəmz/
plural of “bottom” — the lower side of anything
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
brushverbUS /brʌʃ/
rub with a brush, or as if with a brush
From this reading A RACE IN THE MOONLIGHT Now through waving grass up to their knees, now through stretches of sage brush the hunters rode.
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
CreeknounUS /kriːk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Do you own so much land?" asked Larry of Mr. Wilder.
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
explainingverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
characterized by charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit
From this reading "Fifty miles, gracious!
shoot down, of birds
From this reading A RACE IN THE MOONLIGHT Now through waving grass up to their knees, now through stretches of sage brush the hunters rode.
grazingnounUS /ˈɡreɪzɪŋ/
the act of grazing
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
Half-Moonnoun
the crescent-shaped area at the base of the human fingernail
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "No. We have a thousand acres, more or less.
herdsnounUS /hɜːrdz/
plural of “herd” — a group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
HoracenounUS /ˈhɔːrəs/
Roman lyric poet said to have influenced English poetry (65-8 BC)
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
huntersnounUS /ˈhʌntərz/
plural of “hunter” — someone who hunts game
From this reading A RACE IN THE MOONLIGHT Now through waving grass up to their knees, now through stretches of sage brush the hunters rode.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A RACE IN THE MOONLIGHT Now through waving grass up to their knees, now through stretches of sage brush the hunters rode.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading A RACE IN THE MOONLIGHT Now through waving grass up to their knees, now through stretches of sage brush the hunters rode.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading Do you own so much land?" asked Larry of Mr. Wilder.
Larry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do you own so much land?" asked Larry of Mr. Wilder.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading "No. We have a thousand acres, more or less.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
the light of the Moon
From this reading A RACE IN THE MOONLIGHT Now through waving grass up to their knees, now through stretches of sage brush the hunters rode.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "No. We have a thousand acres, more or less.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Do you own so much land?" asked Larry of Mr. Wilder.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Do you own so much land?" asked Larry of Mr. Wilder.
not any; not one
From this reading "No. We have a thousand acres, more or less.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A RACE IN THE MOONLIGHT Now through waving grass up to their knees, now through stretches of sage brush the hunters rode.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A RACE IN THE MOONLIGHT Now through waving grass up to their knees, now through stretches of sage brush the hunters rode.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Do you own so much land?" asked Larry of Mr. Wilder.
any competition
From this reading A RACE IN THE MOONLIGHT Now through waving grass up to their knees, now through stretches of sage brush the hunters rode.
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading A RACE IN THE MOONLIGHT Now through waving grass up to their knees, now through stretches of sage brush the hunters rode.
sagenounUS /seɪdʒ/
a mentor in spiritual and philosophical topics who is renowned for profound wisdom
From this reading A RACE IN THE MOONLIGHT Now through waving grass up to their knees, now through stretches of sage brush the hunters rode.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Do you own so much land?" asked Larry of Mr. Wilder.
southwestnounUS /ˌsaʊˈθwest/
the compass point midway between south and west; at 225 degrees
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
stretchesnounUS /ˈstretʃəz/
plural of “stretch” — a large and unbroken expanse or distance
From this reading A RACE IN THE MOONLIGHT Now through waving grass up to their knees, now through stretches of sage brush the hunters rode.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A RACE IN THE MOONLIGHT Now through waving grass up to their knees, now through stretches of sage brush the hunters rode.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A RACE IN THE MOONLIGHT Now through waving grass up to their knees, now through stretches of sage brush the hunters rode.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading "No. We have a thousand acres, more or less.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A RACE IN THE MOONLIGHT Now through waving grass up to their knees, now through stretches of sage brush the hunters rode.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A RACE IN THE MOONLIGHT Now through waving grass up to their knees, now through stretches of sage brush the hunters rode.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A RACE IN THE MOONLIGHT Now through waving grass up to their knees, now through stretches of sage brush the hunters rode.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
wavingnounUS /ˈweɪvɪŋ/
the act of signaling by a movement of the hand
From this reading A RACE IN THE MOONLIGHT Now through waving grass up to their knees, now through stretches of sage brush the hunters rode.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "No. We have a thousand acres, more or less.
(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 Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
in or at the place that
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Three or four times they caught sight of cattle in the distance, which Horace eagerly declared belonged to the Half-Moon, explaining that the biggest herds were in Long Creek bottoms, about fifty miles southwest, where the cattle could find water as well as good grazing ground.
WildernounUS /ˈwaɪldər/
United States writer and dramatist (1897-1975)
From this reading Do you own so much land?" asked Larry of Mr. Wilder.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Do you own so much land?" asked Larry of Mr. Wilder.
