used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
a-dripping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
a-straddle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
(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 FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading He didn't know until then that Curly had a bullet in the right arm; but all that side was in a mess of dry blood, and when he cut away the coat it began to spurt.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading As for Jim, he was too stiff to dismount, but the buckskin mare lay down with him complete; so he rolled from the saddle, and managed to stagger around.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As for Jim, he was too stiff to dismount, but the buckskin mare lay down with him complete; so he rolled from the saddle, and managed to stagger around.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He didn't know until then that Curly had a bullet in the right arm; but all that side was in a mess of dry blood, and when he cut away the coat it began to spurt.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He didn't know until then that Curly had a bullet in the right arm; but all that side was in a mess of dry blood, and when he cut away the coat it began to spurt.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading He uncinched Jones' saddle, eased his mouth of the bit, loosed the mare's girth as she lay, then knelt by Curly feeling him over for wounds.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
buckskinnounUS /ˈbʌkskɪn/
horse of a light yellowish dun color with dark mane and tail
From this reading As for Jim, he was too stiff to dismount, but the buckskin mare lay down with him complete; so he rolled from the saddle, and managed to stagger around.
bulletnounUS /ˈbʊlət/
a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading He didn't know until then that Curly had a bullet in the right arm; but all that side was in a mess of dry blood, and when he cut away the coat it began to spurt.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He uncinched Jones' saddle, eased his mouth of the bit, loosed the mare's girth as she lay, then knelt by Curly feeling him over for wounds.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading He didn't know until then that Curly had a bullet in the right arm; but all that side was in a mess of dry blood, and when he cut away the coat it began to spurt.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading As for Jim, he was too stiff to dismount, but the buckskin mare lay down with him complete; so he rolled from the saddle, and managed to stagger around.
CurlyadjectiveUS /ˈkɜːrli/
(of hair) having curls or waves
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading He didn't know until then that Curly had a bullet in the right arm; but all that side was in a mess of dry blood, and when he cut away the coat it began to spurt.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He didn't know until then that Curly had a bullet in the right arm; but all that side was in a mess of dry blood, and when he cut away the coat it began to spurt.
dismountverb
alight from (a horse)
From this reading As for Jim, he was too stiff to dismount, but the buckskin mare lay down with him complete; so he rolled from the saddle, and managed to stagger around.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading He didn't know until then that Curly had a bullet in the right arm; but all that side was in a mess of dry blood, and when he cut away the coat it began to spurt.
easedadjectiveUS /iːzd/
(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear
From this reading He uncinched Jones' saddle, eased his mouth of the bit, loosed the mare's girth as she lay, then knelt by Curly feeling him over for wounds.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading He uncinched Jones' saddle, eased his mouth of the bit, loosed the mare's girth as she lay, then knelt by Curly feeling him over for wounds.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
start firing a weapon
From this reading THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
a person who lacks good judgment
From this reading THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As for Jim, he was too stiff to dismount, but the buckskin mare lay down with him complete; so he rolled from the saddle, and managed to stagger around.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
FRONTIERnounUS /frənˈtɪr/
a wilderness at the edge of a settled area of a country
From this reading THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
girthnounUS /ɡɜːrθ/
the distance around a person's body
From this reading He uncinched Jones' saddle, eased his mouth of the bit, loosed the mare's girth as she lay, then knelt by Curly feeling him over for wounds.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
GUARDSnounUS /ɡɑːrdz/
plural of “guard” — a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
an established custom
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As for Jim, he was too stiff to dismount, but the buckskin mare lay down with him complete; so he rolled from the saddle, and managed to stagger around.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He didn't know until then that Curly had a bullet in the right arm; but all that side was in a mess of dry blood, and when he cut away the coat it began to spurt.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Jim, he was too stiff to dismount, but the buckskin mare lay down with him complete; so he rolled from the saddle, and managed to stagger around.
United States labor leader (born in Ireland) who helped to found the Industrial Workers of the World (1830-1930)
From this reading THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
and nothing more
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
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 So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
kneltverbUS /nelt/
inflected form of “kneel” — rest one's weight on one's knees
From this reading He uncinched Jones' saddle, eased his mouth of the bit, loosed the mare's girth as she lay, then knelt by Curly feeling him over for wounds.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He didn't know until then that Curly had a bullet in the right arm; but all that side was in a mess of dry blood, and when he cut away the coat it began to spurt.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading As for Jim, he was too stiff to dismount, but the buckskin mare lay down with him complete; so he rolled from the saddle, and managed to stagger around.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
loosedverbUS /luːst/
past form of “loose” — grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading He uncinched Jones' saddle, eased his mouth of the bit, loosed the mare's girth as she lay, then knelt by Curly feeling him over for wounds.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading As for Jim, he was too stiff to dismount, but the buckskin mare lay down with him complete; so he rolled from the saddle, and managed to stagger around.
marenounUS /mer/
female equine animal
From this reading As for Jim, he was too stiff to dismount, but the buckskin mare lay down with him complete; so he rolled from the saddle, and managed to stagger around.
mare'snounUS /merz/
possessive form of “mare” — female equine animal
From this reading He uncinched Jones' saddle, eased his mouth of the bit, loosed the mare's girth as she lay, then knelt by Curly feeling him over for wounds.
messnounUS /mes/
a state of confusion and disorderliness
From this reading He didn't know until then that Curly had a bullet in the right arm; but all that side was in a mess of dry blood, and when he cut away the coat it began to spurt.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading He uncinched Jones' saddle, eased his mouth of the bit, loosed the mare's girth as she lay, then knelt by Curly feeling him over for wounds.
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He uncinched Jones' saddle, eased his mouth of the bit, loosed the mare's girth as she lay, then knelt by Curly feeling him over for wounds.
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
precisely, exactly
From this reading He didn't know until then that Curly had a bullet in the right arm; but all that side was in a mess of dry blood, and when he cut away the coat it began to spurt.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading As for Jim, he was too stiff to dismount, but the buckskin mare lay down with him complete; so he rolled from the saddle, and managed to stagger around.
put a saddle on
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He uncinched Jones' saddle, eased his mouth of the bit, loosed the mare's girth as she lay, then knelt by Curly feeling him over for wounds.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading He didn't know until then that Curly had a bullet in the right arm; but all that side was in a mess of dry blood, and when he cut away the coat it began to spurt.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
spurtverbUS /spɜːrt/
gush forth in a sudden stream or jet
From this reading He didn't know until then that Curly had a bullet in the right arm; but all that side was in a mess of dry blood, and when he cut away the coat it began to spurt.
staggerverbUS /ˈstæɡər/
walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading As for Jim, he was too stiff to dismount, but the buckskin mare lay down with him complete; so he rolled from the saddle, and managed to stagger around.
past form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
not moving or operating freely
From this reading As for Jim, he was too stiff to dismount, but the buckskin mare lay down with him complete; so he rolled from the saddle, and managed to stagger around.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
swayingverbUS /ˈsweɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “sway” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He uncinched Jones' saddle, eased his mouth of the bit, loosed the mare's girth as she lay, then knelt by Curly feeling him over for wounds.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading As for Jim, he was too stiff to dismount, but the buckskin mare lay down with him complete; so he rolled from the saddle, and managed to stagger around.
uncinched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He uncinched Jones' saddle, eased his mouth of the bit, loosed the mare's girth as she lay, then knelt by Curly feeling him over for wounds.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading He didn't know until then that Curly had a bullet in the right arm; but all that side was in a mess of dry blood, and when he cut away the coat it began to spurt.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As for Jim, he was too stiff to dismount, but the buckskin mare lay down with him complete; so he rolled from the saddle, and managed to stagger around.
(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 THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
at the time that
From this reading So far Curly had just stayed in the saddle from force of habit, but when the usual motion stopped between his knees he surely forgot to be alive any more, and dropped like a shot bird to grass.
windwardnounUS /ˈwɪndwərd/
the direction from which the wind is coming
From this reading THE FRONTIER GUARDS Well up to windward of the range fire, that fool horse Jones came to a finish sudden all a-straddle, swaying, nose down, and blood a-dripping.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As for Jim, he was too stiff to dismount, but the buckskin mare lay down with him complete; so he rolled from the saddle, and managed to stagger around.
woundsnounUS /wuːndz/
plural of “wound” — an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)
From this reading He uncinched Jones' saddle, eased his mouth of the bit, loosed the mare's girth as she lay, then knelt by Curly feeling him over for wounds.
