used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MEETING ON THE TRAIL Arriving at the bridge, Sid Todd told Dave to halt, and the pair dismounted.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His eyes were on the planking, and presently he uttered an exclamation:
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A MEETING ON THE TRAIL Arriving at the bridge, Sid Todd told Dave to halt, and the pair dismounted.
ArrivingverbUS /ərˈaɪvɪŋ/
-ing form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading A MEETING ON THE TRAIL Arriving at the bridge, Sid Todd told Dave to halt, and the pair dismounted.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As they did so they heard a sound in the bushes beside the stream.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A MEETING ON THE TRAIL Arriving at the bridge, Sid Todd told Dave to halt, and the pair dismounted.
next to; at the side of
From this reading As they did so they heard a sound in the bushes beside the stream.
a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
From this reading A MEETING ON THE TRAIL Arriving at the bridge, Sid Todd told Dave to halt, and the pair dismounted.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading As they did so they heard a sound in the bushes beside the stream.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They looked in the direction, but saw nobody.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading The cowboy had drawn his pistol, and with this in hand he walked closer to the bridge.
cowboynounUS /ˈkaʊbɔɪ/
a hired hand who tends cattle and performs other duties on horseback
From this reading The cowboy had drawn his pistol, and with this in hand he walked closer to the bridge.
Dave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A MEETING ON THE TRAIL Arriving at the bridge, Sid Todd told Dave to halt, and the pair dismounted.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading As they did so they heard a sound in the bushes beside the stream.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading They looked in the direction, but saw nobody.
dismounted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A MEETING ON THE TRAIL Arriving at the bridge, Sid Todd told Dave to halt, and the pair dismounted.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading The cowboy had drawn his pistol, and with this in hand he walked closer to the bridge.
exclamationnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃən/
an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading His eyes were on the planking, and presently he uttered an exclamation:
opinion or judgment
From this reading His eyes were on the planking, and presently he uttered an exclamation:
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The cowboy had drawn his pistol, and with this in hand he walked closer to the bridge.
haltverbUS /hɔːlt/
cause to stop
From this reading A MEETING ON THE TRAIL Arriving at the bridge, Sid Todd told Dave to halt, and the pair dismounted.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The cowboy had drawn his pistol, and with this in hand he walked closer to the bridge.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The cowboy had drawn his pistol, and with this in hand he walked closer to the bridge.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading As they did so they heard a sound in the bushes beside the stream.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The cowboy had drawn his pistol, and with this in hand he walked closer to the bridge.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As they did so they heard a sound in the bushes beside the stream.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading They looked in the direction, but saw nobody.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading A MEETING ON THE TRAIL Arriving at the bridge, Sid Todd told Dave to halt, and the pair dismounted.
no person; not anyone
From this reading They looked in the direction, but saw nobody.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A MEETING ON THE TRAIL Arriving at the bridge, Sid Todd told Dave to halt, and the pair dismounted.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading A MEETING ON THE TRAIL Arriving at the bridge, Sid Todd told Dave to halt, and the pair dismounted.
pistolnounUS /ˈpɪstəl/
a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading The cowboy had drawn his pistol, and with this in hand he walked closer to the bridge.
plankingnounUS /ˈplæŋkɪŋ/
planks collectively; a quantity of planks
From this reading His eyes were on the planking, and presently he uttered an exclamation:
in the near future
From this reading His eyes were on the planking, and presently he uttered an exclamation:
cut with a saw
From this reading They looked in the direction, but saw nobody.
Sid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A MEETING ON THE TRAIL Arriving at the bridge, Sid Todd told Dave to halt, and the pair dismounted.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading As they did so they heard a sound in the bushes beside the stream.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading As they did so they heard a sound in the bushes beside the stream.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading As they did so they heard a sound in the bushes beside the stream.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A MEETING ON THE TRAIL Arriving at the bridge, Sid Todd told Dave to halt, and the pair dismounted.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As they did so they heard a sound in the bushes beside the stream.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The cowboy had drawn his pistol, and with this in hand he walked closer to the bridge.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A MEETING ON THE TRAIL Arriving at the bridge, Sid Todd told Dave to halt, and the pair dismounted.
ToddnounUS /tɑːd/
Scottish chemist noted for his research into the structure of nucleic acids (born in 1907)
From this reading A MEETING ON THE TRAIL Arriving at the bridge, Sid Todd told Dave to halt, and the pair dismounted.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading A MEETING ON THE TRAIL Arriving at the bridge, Sid Todd told Dave to halt, and the pair dismounted.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading A MEETING ON THE TRAIL Arriving at the bridge, Sid Todd told Dave to halt, and the pair dismounted.
communicated in words
From this reading His eyes were on the planking, and presently he uttered an exclamation:
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading The cowboy had drawn his pistol, and with this in hand he walked closer to the bridge.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His eyes were on the planking, and presently he uttered an exclamation:
in the company of; together with
From this reading The cowboy had drawn his pistol, and with this in hand he walked closer to the bridge.
