used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was a thrilling sight, and the boys' hearts were beating like trip-hammers as they crouched lower behind their screen of bushes and took in every detail of the chase.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading Through the shallows the horses struggled and climbed up the further bank.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading It was a thrilling sight, and the boys' hearts were beating like trip-hammers as they crouched lower behind their screen of bushes and took in every detail of the chase.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading It was a thrilling sight, and the boys' hearts were beating like trip-hammers as they crouched lower behind their screen of bushes and took in every detail of the chase.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading It was a thrilling sight, and the boys' hearts were beating like trip-hammers as they crouched lower behind their screen of bushes and took in every detail of the chase.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading It was a thrilling sight, and the boys' hearts were beating like trip-hammers as they crouched lower behind their screen of bushes and took in every detail of the chase.
go after with the intent to catch
From this reading It was a thrilling sight, and the boys' hearts were beating like trip-hammers as they crouched lower behind their screen of bushes and took in every detail of the chase.
past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading Through the shallows the horses struggled and climbed up the further bank.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
cowboysnounUS /ˈkaʊbɔɪz/
plural of “cowboy” — a hired hand who tends cattle and performs other duties on horseback
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
crouchedverbUS /kraʊtʃt/
past form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading It was a thrilling sight, and the boys' hearts were beating like trip-hammers as they crouched lower behind their screen of bushes and took in every detail of the chase.
detailnounUS /dɪˈteɪl/
an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole
From this reading It was a thrilling sight, and the boys' hearts were beating like trip-hammers as they crouched lower behind their screen of bushes and took in every detail of the chase.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading The riders reached the little river and plunged in without drawing rein.
drenchingnounUS /ˈdrentʃɪŋ/
the act of making something completely wet
From this reading The water splashed high over horses and riders drenching them to the skin.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It was a thrilling sight, and the boys' hearts were beating like trip-hammers as they crouched lower behind their screen of bushes and took in every detail of the chase.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Through the shallows the horses struggled and climbed up the further bank.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading It was a thrilling sight, and the boys' hearts were beating like trip-hammers as they crouched lower behind their screen of bushes and took in every detail of the chase.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The water splashed high over horses and riders drenching them to the skin.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a thrilling sight, and the boys' hearts were beating like trip-hammers as they crouched lower behind their screen of bushes and took in every detail of the chase.
conformity or harmony
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
lashingnounUS /ˈlæʃɪŋ/
beating with a whip or strap or rope as a form of punishment
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The riders reached the little river and plunged in without drawing rein.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading It was a thrilling sight, and the boys' hearts were beating like trip-hammers as they crouched lower behind their screen of bushes and took in every detail of the chase.
roused to anger
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was a thrilling sight, and the boys' hearts were beating like trip-hammers as they crouched lower behind their screen of bushes and took in every detail of the chase.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The water splashed high over horses and riders drenching them to the skin.
past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading The riders reached the little river and plunged in without drawing rein.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The riders reached the little river and plunged in without drawing rein.
reinverbUS /reɪn/
control and direct with or as if by reins
From this reading The riders reached the little river and plunged in without drawing rein.
ridernounUS /ˈraɪdər/
a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
ridersnounUS /ˈraɪdərz/
plural of “rider” — a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)
From this reading The riders reached the little river and plunged in without drawing rein.
the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading The riders reached the little river and plunged in without drawing rein.
screennounUS /skriːn/
a white or silvered surface where pictures can be projected for viewing
From this reading It was a thrilling sight, and the boys' hearts were beating like trip-hammers as they crouched lower behind their screen of bushes and took in every detail of the chase.
shallows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the shallows the horses struggled and climbed up the further bank.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading It was a thrilling sight, and the boys' hearts were beating like trip-hammers as they crouched lower behind their screen of bushes and took in every detail of the chase.
a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading The water splashed high over horses and riders drenching them to the skin.
splashedadjectiveUS /splæʃt/
(of a fluid) having been propelled about in flying drops or masses
From this reading The water splashed high over horses and riders drenching them to the skin.
spurringnounUS /ˈspɜːrɪŋ/
a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading Through the shallows the horses struggled and climbed up the further bank.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The water splashed high over horses and riders drenching them to the skin.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was a thrilling sight, and the boys' hearts were beating like trip-hammers as they crouched lower behind their screen of bushes and took in every detail of the chase.
thrillingadjectiveUS /ˈθrɪlɪŋ/
causing a surge of emotion or excitement
From this reading It was a thrilling sight, and the boys' hearts were beating like trip-hammers as they crouched lower behind their screen of bushes and took in every detail of the chase.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the shallows the horses struggled and climbed up the further bank.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The water splashed high over horses and riders drenching them to the skin.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading It was a thrilling sight, and the boys' hearts were beating like trip-hammers as they crouched lower behind their screen of bushes and took in every detail of the chase.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
trip-hammers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a thrilling sight, and the boys' hearts were beating like trip-hammers as they crouched lower behind their screen of bushes and took in every detail of the chase.
UNDERprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Through the shallows the horses struggled and climbed up the further bank.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a thrilling sight, and the boys' hearts were beating like trip-hammers as they crouched lower behind their screen of bushes and took in every detail of the chase.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading The water splashed high over horses and riders drenching them to the skin.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading KEEPING UNDER COVER Down the trail were coming ten or a dozen cowboys, spurring and lashing their horses and riding like mad in the direction the first rider had taken.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The riders reached the little river and plunged in without drawing rein.
