used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Then he set about making a hasty camp.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading A thirst-parched stranger might have ridden past twenty times on the bench above without suspecting its presence.
abundantadjectiveUS /əˈbʌndənt/
present in great quantity
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Just before utter blackness shut down on the land, Sandy McCrae dismounted and stripped saddle and pack from his horses.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Beside him a little spring bubbled out of the bottom of the draw and seeped away under tangled roots and fallen brush.
axenounUS /æks/
an edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Just before utter blackness shut down on the land, Sandy McCrae dismounted and stripped saddle and pack from his horses.
a long seat for more than one person
From this reading A thirst-parched stranger might have ridden past twenty times on the bench above without suspecting its presence.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Beside him a little spring bubbled out of the bottom of the draw and seeped away under tangled roots and fallen brush.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading Just before utter blackness shut down on the land, Sandy McCrae dismounted and stripped saddle and pack from his horses.
the lower side of anything
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
brushverbUS /brʌʃ/
rub with a brush, or as if with a brush
From this reading Beside him a little spring bubbled out of the bottom of the draw and seeped away under tangled roots and fallen brush.
bubbledverbUS /ˈbʌbəld/
past form of “bubble” — form, produce, or emit bubbles
From this reading Beside him a little spring bubbled out of the bottom of the draw and seeped away under tangled roots and fallen brush.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading Then he set about making a hasty camp.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
dismounted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just before utter blackness shut down on the land, Sandy McCrae dismounted and stripped saddle and pack from his horses.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Just before utter blackness shut down on the land, Sandy McCrae dismounted and stripped saddle and pack from his horses.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading Beside him a little spring bubbled out of the bottom of the draw and seeped away under tangled roots and fallen brush.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Just before utter blackness shut down on the land, Sandy McCrae dismounted and stripped saddle and pack from his horses.
hastyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪsti/
excessively quick
From this reading Then he set about making a hasty camp.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A thirst-parched stranger might have ridden past twenty times on the bench above without suspecting its presence.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Beside him a little spring bubbled out of the bottom of the draw and seeped away under tangled roots and fallen brush.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Just before utter blackness shut down on the land, Sandy McCrae dismounted and stripped saddle and pack from his horses.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading Just before utter blackness shut down on the land, Sandy McCrae dismounted and stripped saddle and pack from his horses.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A thirst-parched stranger might have ridden past twenty times on the bench above without suspecting its presence.
and nothing more
From this reading Just before utter blackness shut down on the land, Sandy McCrae dismounted and stripped saddle and pack from his horses.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading Just before utter blackness shut down on the land, Sandy McCrae dismounted and stripped saddle and pack from his horses.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Beside him a little spring bubbled out of the bottom of the draw and seeped away under tangled roots and fallen brush.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Then he set about making a hasty camp.
McCrae
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just before utter blackness shut down on the land, Sandy McCrae dismounted and stripped saddle and pack from his horses.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading A thirst-parched stranger might have ridden past twenty times on the bench above without suspecting its presence.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Just before utter blackness shut down on the land, Sandy McCrae dismounted and stripped saddle and pack from his horses.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
arrange in a container
From this reading Just before utter blackness shut down on the land, Sandy McCrae dismounted and stripped saddle and pack from his horses.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading A thirst-parched stranger might have ridden past twenty times on the bench above without suspecting its presence.
pasturenounUS /ˈpæstʃər/
a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
picketnounUS /ˈpɪkɪt/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
pinsnounUS /pɪnz/
plural of “pin” — a piece of jewelry that is pinned onto the wearer's garment
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
a future prospect or potential
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading A thirst-parched stranger might have ridden past twenty times on the bench above without suspecting its presence.
pullingnounUS /ˈpʊlɪŋ/
the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
riddenverbUS /ˈrɪdən/
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading A thirst-parched stranger might have ridden past twenty times on the bench above without suspecting its presence.
rootsnounUS /ruːts/
the condition of belonging to a particular place or group by virtue of social or ethnic or cultural lineage
From this reading Beside him a little spring bubbled out of the bottom of the draw and seeped away under tangled roots and fallen brush.
put a saddle on
From this reading Just before utter blackness shut down on the land, Sandy McCrae dismounted and stripped saddle and pack from his horses.
SandyadjectiveUS /ˈsændi/
of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown
From this reading Just before utter blackness shut down on the land, Sandy McCrae dismounted and stripped saddle and pack from his horses.
seepedverbUS /siːpt/
past form of “seep” — pass gradually or leak through or as if through small openings
From this reading Beside him a little spring bubbled out of the bottom of the draw and seeped away under tangled roots and fallen brush.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Then he set about making a hasty camp.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading Just before utter blackness shut down on the land, Sandy McCrae dismounted and stripped saddle and pack from his horses.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
solidlyadverbUS /ˈsɑːlədli/
as an undiversified whole
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
the season of growth
From this reading Beside him a little spring bubbled out of the bottom of the draw and seeped away under tangled roots and fallen brush.
stakedverbUS /steɪkt/
past form of “stake” — put at risk
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading A thirst-parched stranger might have ridden past twenty times on the bench above without suspecting its presence.
strippedadjectiveUS /strɪpt/
having only essential or minimal features
From this reading Just before utter blackness shut down on the land, Sandy McCrae dismounted and stripped saddle and pack from his horses.
suspectingverbUS /səˈspektɪŋ/
-ing form of “suspect” — imagine to be the case or true or probable
From this reading A thirst-parched stranger might have ridden past twenty times on the bench above without suspecting its presence.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
tangledadjectiveUS /ˈtæŋɡəld/
in a confused mass
From this reading Beside him a little spring bubbled out of the bottom of the draw and seeped away under tangled roots and fallen brush.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Just before utter blackness shut down on the land, Sandy McCrae dismounted and stripped saddle and pack from his horses.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he set about making a hasty camp.
thirst-parched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A thirst-parched stranger might have ridden past twenty times on the bench above without suspecting its presence.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading A thirst-parched stranger might have ridden past twenty times on the bench above without suspecting its presence.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading A thirst-parched stranger might have ridden past twenty times on the bench above without suspecting its presence.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Beside him a little spring bubbled out of the bottom of the draw and seeped away under tangled roots and fallen brush.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading Just before utter blackness shut down on the land, Sandy McCrae dismounted and stripped saddle and pack from his horses.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He looked up at the sky, shook his head, and, taking a light axe, cut two picket pins; after which he staked the horses out in the abundant pasture at the bottom of the draw, driving the pins in solidly beyond the possibility of pulling.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading A thirst-parched stranger might have ridden past twenty times on the bench above without suspecting its presence.
