used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A new matter of interest claimed the immediate attention of the defenders within the home of ranchman Whitney.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The rider was now in plain sight, and a brief scrutiny through the glass by Hawkridge removed all doubt; she was right.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was coming at an easy, swinging gallop, straight toward his home.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The rider was now in plain sight, and a brief scrutiny through the glass by Hawkridge removed all doubt; she was right.
move towards
From this reading It will be remembered that the sister had reported the approach of a horseman, whom she believed to be her brother.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was coming at an easy, swinging gallop, straight toward his home.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading A new matter of interest claimed the immediate attention of the defenders within the home of ranchman Whitney.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It will be remembered that the sister had reported the approach of a horseman, whom she believed to be her brother.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading It will be remembered that the sister had reported the approach of a horseman, whom she believed to be her brother.
of short duration or distance
From this reading The rider was now in plain sight, and a brief scrutiny through the glass by Hawkridge removed all doubt; she was right.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading It will be remembered that the sister had reported the approach of a horseman, whom she believed to be her brother.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The rider was now in plain sight, and a brief scrutiny through the glass by Hawkridge removed all doubt; she was right.
claimedverbUS /kleɪmd/
past form of “claim” — assert or affirm strongly; state to be true or existing
From this reading A new matter of interest claimed the immediate attention of the defenders within the home of ranchman Whitney.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading He was coming at an easy, swinging gallop, straight toward his home.
defendersnounUS /dɪˈfendərz/
plural of “defender” — a person who cares for persons or property
From this reading A new matter of interest claimed the immediate attention of the defenders within the home of ranchman Whitney.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading The rider was now in plain sight, and a brief scrutiny through the glass by Hawkridge removed all doubt; she was right.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading He was coming at an easy, swinging gallop, straight toward his home.
gallopverbUS /ˈɡæləp/
ride at a galloping pace
From this reading He was coming at an easy, swinging gallop, straight toward his home.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading The rider was now in plain sight, and a brief scrutiny through the glass by Hawkridge removed all doubt; she was right.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It will be remembered that the sister had reported the approach of a horseman, whom she believed to be her brother.
Hawkridge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rider was now in plain sight, and a brief scrutiny through the glass by Hawkridge removed all doubt; she was right.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was coming at an easy, swinging gallop, straight toward his home.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It will be remembered that the sister had reported the approach of a horseman, whom she believed to be her brother.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was coming at an easy, swinging gallop, straight toward his home.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading A new matter of interest claimed the immediate attention of the defenders within the home of ranchman Whitney.
horsemannounUS /ˈhɔːrsmən/
a man skilled in equitation
From this reading It will be remembered that the sister had reported the approach of a horseman, whom she believed to be her brother.
of the present time and place
From this reading A new matter of interest claimed the immediate attention of the defenders within the home of ranchman Whitney.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The rider was now in plain sight, and a brief scrutiny through the glass by Hawkridge removed all doubt; she was right.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading A new matter of interest claimed the immediate attention of the defenders within the home of ranchman Whitney.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It will be remembered that the sister had reported the approach of a horseman, whom she believed to be her brother.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading A new matter of interest claimed the immediate attention of the defenders within the home of ranchman Whitney.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading A new matter of interest claimed the immediate attention of the defenders within the home of ranchman Whitney.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The rider was now in plain sight, and a brief scrutiny through the glass by Hawkridge removed all doubt; she was right.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A new matter of interest claimed the immediate attention of the defenders within the home of ranchman Whitney.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON PAROLE.
PAROLEnounUS /pərˈoʊl/
a promise
From this reading ON PAROLE.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading The rider was now in plain sight, and a brief scrutiny through the glass by Hawkridge removed all doubt; she was right.
ranchman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A new matter of interest claimed the immediate attention of the defenders within the home of ranchman Whitney.
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading It will be remembered that the sister had reported the approach of a horseman, whom she believed to be her brother.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading The rider was now in plain sight, and a brief scrutiny through the glass by Hawkridge removed all doubt; she was right.
reportedadjectiveUS /ˌriːˈpɔːrtɪd/
made known or told about; especially presented in a formal account
From this reading It will be remembered that the sister had reported the approach of a horseman, whom she believed to be her brother.
ridernounUS /ˈraɪdər/
a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)
From this reading The rider was now in plain sight, and a brief scrutiny through the glass by Hawkridge removed all doubt; she was right.
precisely, exactly
From this reading The rider was now in plain sight, and a brief scrutiny through the glass by Hawkridge removed all doubt; she was right.
scrutinynounUS /ˈskruːtəni/
the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
From this reading The rider was now in plain sight, and a brief scrutiny through the glass by Hawkridge removed all doubt; she was right.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It will be remembered that the sister had reported the approach of a horseman, whom she believed to be her brother.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading The rider was now in plain sight, and a brief scrutiny through the glass by Hawkridge removed all doubt; she was right.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading It will be remembered that the sister had reported the approach of a horseman, whom she believed to be her brother.
successive (without a break)
From this reading He was coming at an easy, swinging gallop, straight toward his home.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading He was coming at an easy, swinging gallop, straight toward his home.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It will be remembered that the sister had reported the approach of a horseman, whom she believed to be her brother.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A new matter of interest claimed the immediate attention of the defenders within the home of ranchman Whitney.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The rider was now in plain sight, and a brief scrutiny through the glass by Hawkridge removed all doubt; she was right.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It will be remembered that the sister had reported the approach of a horseman, whom she believed to be her brother.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading He was coming at an easy, swinging gallop, straight toward his home.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The rider was now in plain sight, and a brief scrutiny through the glass by Hawkridge removed all doubt; she was right.
WhitneynounUS /ˈwɪtni/
United States inventor of the mechanical cotton gin (1765-1825)
From this reading A new matter of interest claimed the immediate attention of the defenders within the home of ranchman Whitney.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It will be remembered that the sister had reported the approach of a horseman, whom she believed to be her brother.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading It will be remembered that the sister had reported the approach of a horseman, whom she believed to be her brother.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading A new matter of interest claimed the immediate attention of the defenders within the home of ranchman Whitney.
