used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Several cowboys crowded around him, as he dismounted heavily and leaned wearily against the short hitch-rack.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Several cowboys crowded around him, as he dismounted heavily and leaned wearily against the short hitch-rack.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Several cowboys crowded around him, as he dismounted heavily and leaned wearily against the short hitch-rack.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Wha’sa matter, Ben?” asked a cowboy.
a mountain or tall hill
From this reading The man was Ben Freel, the sheriff.
cogitating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
cowboynounUS /ˈkaʊbɔɪ/
a hired hand who tends cattle and performs other duties on horseback
From this reading “Wha’sa matter, Ben?” asked a cowboy.
cowboysnounUS /ˈkaʊbɔɪz/
plural of “cowboy” — a hired hand who tends cattle and performs other duties on horseback
From this reading Several cowboys crowded around him, as he dismounted heavily and leaned wearily against the short hitch-rack.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading Several cowboys crowded around him, as he dismounted heavily and leaned wearily against the short hitch-rack.
to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
dismounted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several cowboys crowded around him, as he dismounted heavily and leaned wearily against the short hitch-rack.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
Freel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man was Ben Freel, the sheriff.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
goreverbUS /ɡɔːr/
wound by piercing with a sharp or penetrating object or instrument
From this reading One side of his head was a welter of gore.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Several cowboys crowded around him, as he dismounted heavily and leaned wearily against the short hitch-rack.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading One side of his head was a welter of gore.
headedadjectiveUS /ˈhedəd/
having a heading or course in a certain direction
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
to a considerable degree
From this reading Several cowboys crowded around him, as he dismounted heavily and leaned wearily against the short hitch-rack.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Several cowboys crowded around him, as he dismounted heavily and leaned wearily against the short hitch-rack.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading One side of his head was a welter of gore.
hitch-rack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several cowboys crowded around him, as he dismounted heavily and leaned wearily against the short hitch-rack.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
and nothing more
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Several cowboys crowded around him, as he dismounted heavily and leaned wearily against the short hitch-rack.
loafed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading “Wha’sa matter, Ben?” asked a cowboy.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One side of his head was a welter of gore.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Several cowboys crowded around him, as he dismounted heavily and leaned wearily against the short hitch-rack.
sheriffnounUS /ˈʃerəf/
the principal law-enforcement officer in a county
From this reading The man was Ben Freel, the sheriff.
sheriff'snounUS /ˈʃerəfs/
possessive form of “sheriff” — the principal law-enforcement officer in a county
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Several cowboys crowded around him, as he dismounted heavily and leaned wearily against the short hitch-rack.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading One side of his head was a welter of gore.
Skeeter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
having a supporting base
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
wearilyadverbUS /ˈwerəli/
in a weary manner
From this reading Several cowboys crowded around him, as he dismounted heavily and leaned wearily against the short hitch-rack.
welternounUS /ˈweltər/
a confused multitude of things
From this reading One side of his head was a welter of gore.
Wha'sa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Wha’sa matter, Ben?” asked a cowboy.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
at the time that
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Skeeter loafed along the street, cogitating deeply over just what to do, when a man rode into town and headed for the sheriff’s office, in front of which Skeeter was standing.
