used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
(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 All the saddle trains had left before the late snow, and there was not an animal of any kind to be had except by purchase--an alternation for which I was not prepared.
alternationnounUS /ˈɔːltərneɪʃən/
successive change from one thing or state to another and back again
From this reading All the saddle trains had left before the late snow, and there was not an animal of any kind to be had except by purchase--an alternation for which I was not prepared.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading All the saddle trains had left before the late snow, and there was not an animal of any kind to be had except by purchase--an alternation for which I was not prepared.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was doubtful whether the trail was yet open; but a thaw had set in, and the prospect was that it would be practicable to get over in a few days.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading All the saddle trains had left before the late snow, and there was not an animal of any kind to be had except by purchase--an alternation for which I was not prepared.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading All the saddle trains had left before the late snow, and there was not an animal of any kind to be had except by purchase--an alternation for which I was not prepared.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was doubtful whether the trail was yet open; but a thaw had set in, and the prospect was that it would be practicable to get over in a few days.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The stage from Genoa to Woodford's had been discontinued, in consequence of the expense of feeding the horses.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading All the saddle trains had left before the late snow, and there was not an animal of any kind to be had except by purchase--an alternation for which I was not prepared.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was doubtful whether the trail was yet open; but a thaw had set in, and the prospect was that it would be practicable to get over in a few days.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading All the saddle trains had left before the late snow, and there was not an animal of any kind to be had except by purchase--an alternation for which I was not prepared.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading The stage from Genoa to Woodford's had been discontinued, in consequence of the expense of feeding the horses.
travel across or pass over
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading It was doubtful whether the trail was yet open; but a thaw had set in, and the prospect was that it would be practicable to get over in a few days.
discontinuedadjectiveUS /dɪskənˈtɪnjuːd/
stopped permanently or temporarily
From this reading The stage from Genoa to Woodford's had been discontinued, in consequence of the expense of feeding the horses.
doubtfuladjectiveUS /ˈdaʊtfəl/
open to doubt or suspicion
From this reading It was doubtful whether the trail was yet open; but a thaw had set in, and the prospect was that it would be practicable to get over in a few days.
apart from; not including
From this reading All the saddle trains had left before the late snow, and there was not an animal of any kind to be had except by purchase--an alternation for which I was not prepared.
expensenounUS /ɪkˈspens/
amounts paid for goods and services that may be currently tax deductible (as opposed to capital expenditures)
From this reading The stage from Genoa to Woodford's had been discontinued, in consequence of the expense of feeding the horses.
feedingnounUS /ˈfiːdɪŋ/
the act of consuming food
From this reading The stage from Genoa to Woodford's had been discontinued, in consequence of the expense of feeding the horses.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading It was doubtful whether the trail was yet open; but a thaw had set in, and the prospect was that it would be practicable to get over in a few days.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading START FOR HOME.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The stage from Genoa to Woodford's had been discontinued, in consequence of the expense of feeding the horses.
GenoanounUS /ˈdʒenoʊə/
a seaport in northwestern Italy; provincial capital of Liguria
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading It was doubtful whether the trail was yet open; but a thaw had set in, and the prospect was that it would be practicable to get over in a few days.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was doubtful whether the trail was yet open; but a thaw had set in, and the prospect was that it would be practicable to get over in a few days.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading START FOR HOME.
homewardadverbUS /ˈhoʊmwərd/
toward home
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading The stage from Genoa to Woodford's had been discontinued, in consequence of the expense of feeding the horses.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was doubtful whether the trail was yet open; but a thaw had set in, and the prospect was that it would be practicable to get over in a few days.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading All the saddle trains had left before the late snow, and there was not an animal of any kind to be had except by purchase--an alternation for which I was not prepared.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading All the saddle trains had left before the late snow, and there was not an animal of any kind to be had except by purchase--an alternation for which I was not prepared.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading All the saddle trains had left before the late snow, and there was not an animal of any kind to be had except by purchase--an alternation for which I was not prepared.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
mulenounUS /mjuːl/
hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse; usually sterile
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading All the saddle trains had left before the late snow, and there was not an animal of any kind to be had except by purchase--an alternation for which I was not prepared.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading It was doubtful whether the trail was yet open; but a thaw had set in, and the prospect was that it would be practicable to get over in a few days.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It was doubtful whether the trail was yet open; but a thaw had set in, and the prospect was that it would be practicable to get over in a few days.
inflected form of “permit” — consent to, give permission
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
practicableadjectiveUS /ˈpræktəkəbəl/
usable for a specific purpose
From this reading It was doubtful whether the trail was yet open; but a thaw had set in, and the prospect was that it would be practicable to get over in a few days.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading All the saddle trains had left before the late snow, and there was not an animal of any kind to be had except by purchase--an alternation for which I was not prepared.
the possibility of future success
From this reading It was doubtful whether the trail was yet open; but a thaw had set in, and the prospect was that it would be practicable to get over in a few days.
purchasenounUS /ˈpɜːrtʃəs/
the acquisition of something for payment
From this reading All the saddle trains had left before the late snow, and there was not an animal of any kind to be had except by purchase--an alternation for which I was not prepared.
put a saddle on
From this reading All the saddle trains had left before the late snow, and there was not an animal of any kind to be had except by purchase--an alternation for which I was not prepared.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading All the saddle trains had left before the late snow, and there was not an animal of any kind to be had except by purchase--an alternation for which I was not prepared.
in the near future
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading START FOR HOME.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was doubtful whether the trail was yet open; but a thaw had set in, and the prospect was that it would be practicable to get over in a few days.
thawnounUS /θɔː/
the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
From this reading It was doubtful whether the trail was yet open; but a thaw had set in, and the prospect was that it would be practicable to get over in a few days.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
in or at that place or location
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading It was doubtful whether the trail was yet open; but a thaw had set in, and the prospect was that it would be practicable to get over in a few days.
trainsnounUS /treɪnz/
plural of “train” — public transport provided by a line of railway cars coupled together and drawn by a locomotive
From this reading All the saddle trains had left before the late snow, and there was not an animal of any kind to be had except by purchase--an alternation for which I was not prepared.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was doubtful whether the trail was yet open; but a thaw had set in, and the prospect was that it would be practicable to get over in a few days.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading It was doubtful whether the trail was yet open; but a thaw had set in, and the prospect was that it would be practicable to get over in a few days.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading As soon as the weather permitted I set forth on my journey homeward, taking the stage to Genoa, in the hope of finding a horse or mule there upon which to cross the mountains.
Woodford's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stage from Genoa to Woodford's had been discontinued, in consequence of the expense of feeding the horses.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It was doubtful whether the trail was yet open; but a thaw had set in, and the prospect was that it would be practicable to get over in a few days.
but in spite of that
From this reading It was doubtful whether the trail was yet open; but a thaw had set in, and the prospect was that it would be practicable to get over in a few days.
