Chapter VIII · The Ambuscade

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading As yet there was no hint of a storm.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Scarcely a cloud could be seen across the blue expanse of sky.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

to a noticeable degree

From this reading Dick noted with deep concern that the wind had veered round more to the north and that the weather had become appreciably cooler.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Scarcely a cloud could be seen across the blue expanse of sky.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Dick noted with deep concern that the wind had veered round more to the north and that the weather had become appreciably cooler.

on the far side of; further than

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading Scarcely a cloud could be seen across the blue expanse of sky.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

make overcast or cloudy

From this reading Scarcely a cloud could be seen across the blue expanse of sky.

something that interests you because it is important or affects you

From this reading Dick noted with deep concern that the wind had veered round more to the north and that the weather had become appreciably cooler.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

with equanimity

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

a refrigerator for cooling liquids

From this reading Dick noted with deep concern that the wind had veered round more to the north and that the weather had become appreciably cooler.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Scarcely a cloud could be seen across the blue expanse of sky.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Toma led the way to the coulee where the ponies were picketed.

a natural object that covers or envelops

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading Dick noted with deep concern that the wind had veered round more to the north and that the weather had become appreciably cooler.

someone who is a detective

From this reading Dick noted with deep concern that the wind had veered round more to the north and that the weather had become appreciably cooler.

cause to move by pulling

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

a wide scope

From this reading Scarcely a cloud could be seen across the blue expanse of sky.

after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

at or to or toward the front

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

an indirect suggestion

From this reading As yet there was no hint of a storm.

plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used

From this reading Toma led the way to the coulee where the ponies were picketed.

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Dick noted with deep concern that the wind had veered round more to the north and that the weather had become appreciably cooler.

past form of “munch” — chew noisily

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

not any; not one

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading Dick noted with deep concern that the wind had veered round more to the north and that the weather had become appreciably cooler.

widely known and esteemed

From this reading Dick noted with deep concern that the wind had veered round more to the north and that the weather had become appreciably cooler.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

past form of “picket” — serve as pickets or post pickets

From this reading Toma led the way to the coulee where the ponies were picketed.

plural of “pony” — a range horse of the western United States

From this reading Toma led the way to the coulee where the ponies were picketed.

past form of “push” — move with force

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading Dick noted with deep concern that the wind had veered round more to the north and that the weather had become appreciably cooler.

only a very short time before

From this reading Scarcely a cloud could be seen across the blue expanse of sky.

a white or silvered surface where pictures can be projected for viewing

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Scarcely a cloud could be seen across the blue expanse of sky.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading Scarcely a cloud could be seen across the blue expanse of sky.

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

behave violently, as if in state of a great anger

From this reading As yet there was no hint of a storm.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Dick noted with deep concern that the wind had veered round more to the north and that the weather had become appreciably cooler.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Toma led the way to the coulee where the ponies were picketed.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

in or at that place or location

From this reading As yet there was no hint of a storm.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

a dense growth of bushes

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

an old word meaning “to that place”

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Toma led the way to the coulee where the ponies were picketed.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Toma led the way to the coulee where the ponies were picketed.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

past form of “veer” — turn sharply; change direction abruptly

From this reading Dick noted with deep concern that the wind had veered round more to the north and that the weather had become appreciably cooler.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading As yet there was no hint of a storm.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Toma led the way to the coulee where the ponies were picketed.

the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation

From this reading Dick noted with deep concern that the wind had veered round more to the north and that the weather had become appreciably cooler.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Toma led the way to the coulee where the ponies were picketed.

in or at the place that

From this reading Toma led the way to the coulee where the ponies were picketed.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading On the road thither they had met no one, and were in consequence in high spirits as they pushed forward through the trees, entered the draw, and came finally to the screen of thicket beyond which the horses munched contentedly on the dry grass covering the space around them.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading Dick noted with deep concern that the wind had veered round more to the north and that the weather had become appreciably cooler.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Dick noted with deep concern that the wind had veered round more to the north and that the weather had become appreciably cooler.

but in spite of that

From this reading As yet there was no hint of a storm.