Chapter XV

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

From this reading To Thomas Strawbridge the expedition against San Geronimo was invested with a sense of unreality.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading To Thomas Strawbridge the expedition against San Geronimo was invested with a sense of unreality.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The troops hauled a single three-pound field-gun with its snout in an old canvas bag and its breech wrapped in palm-leaves.

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

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He was mounted on a mule, and at his pommel hung his crucifix, a little gourd of consecrated oil, and a vial of holy water.

a flexible container with a single opening

From this reading The troops hauled a single three-pound field-gun with its snout in an old canvas bag and its breech wrapped in palm-leaves.

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

From this reading Not less unbelievable was the priest, Father Benicio, in his black cassock and priest's round black hat.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading Not less unbelievable was the priest, Father Benicio, in his black cassock and priest's round black hat.

opening in the rear of the barrel of a gun where bullets can be loaded

From this reading The troops hauled a single three-pound field-gun with its snout in an old canvas bag and its breech wrapped in palm-leaves.

a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)

From this reading The troops hauled a single three-pound field-gun with its snout in an old canvas bag and its breech wrapped in palm-leaves.

plural of “cart” — a heavy open wagon usually having two wheels and drawn by an animal

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

a black garment reaching down to the ankles; worn by priests or choristers

From this reading Not less unbelievable was the priest, Father Benicio, in his black cassock and priest's round black hat.

put or send forth

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

troops trained to fight on horseback

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

solemnly dedicated to or set apart for a high or sacred purpose

From this reading He was mounted on a mule, and at his pommel hung his crucifix, a little gourd of consecrated oil, and a vial of holy water.

the quality of being believable or trustworthy

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

representation of the cross on which Jesus died

From this reading He was mounted on a mule, and at his pommel hung his crucifix, a little gourd of consecrated oil, and a vial of holy water.

an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

plural of “donkey” — the symbol of the Democratic Party; introduced in cartoons by Thomas Nast in 1874

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

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

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

a military campaign designed to achieve a specific objective in a foreign country

From this reading To Thomas Strawbridge the expedition against San Geronimo was invested with a sense of unreality.

deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Not less unbelievable was the priest, Father Benicio, in his black cassock and priest's round black hat.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

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

From this reading The troops hauled a single three-pound field-gun with its snout in an old canvas bag and its breech wrapped in palm-leaves.

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

Apache chieftain who raided the white settlers in the Southwest as resistance to being confined to a reservation (1829-1909)

From this reading To Thomas Strawbridge the expedition against San Geronimo was invested with a sense of unreality.

bottle made from the dried shell of a bottle gourd

From this reading He was mounted on a mule, and at his pommel hung his crucifix, a little gourd of consecrated oil, and a vial of holy water.

headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim

From this reading Not less unbelievable was the priest, Father Benicio, in his black cassock and priest's round black hat.

past form of “haul” — draw slowly or heavily

From this reading The troops hauled a single three-pound field-gun with its snout in an old canvas bag and its breech wrapped in palm-leaves.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He was mounted on a mule, and at his pommel hung his crucifix, a little gourd of consecrated oil, and a vial of holy water.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Not less unbelievable was the priest, Father Benicio, in his black cassock and priest's round black hat.

a sacred place of pilgrimage

From this reading He was mounted on a mule, and at his pommel hung his crucifix, a little gourd of consecrated oil, and a vial of holy water.

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

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading He was mounted on a mule, and at his pommel hung his crucifix, a little gourd of consecrated oil, and a vial of holy water.

plural of “impression” — a vague idea in which some confidence is placed

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

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

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

past form of “invest” — make an investment

From this reading To Thomas Strawbridge the expedition against San Geronimo was invested with a sense of unreality.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The troops hauled a single three-pound field-gun with its snout in an old canvas bag and its breech wrapped in palm-leaves.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading Not less unbelievable was the priest, Father Benicio, in his black cassock and priest's round black hat.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading He was mounted on a mule, and at his pommel hung his crucifix, a little gourd of consecrated oil, and a vial of holy water.

plural of “mistress” — an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

a collection containing a variety of sorts of things

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse; usually sterile

From this reading He was mounted on a mule, and at his pommel hung his crucifix, a little gourd of consecrated oil, and a vial of holy water.

plural of “mule” — hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse; usually sterile

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Not less unbelievable was the priest, Father Benicio, in his black cassock and priest's round black hat.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading To Thomas Strawbridge the expedition against San Geronimo was invested with a sense of unreality.

A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.

From this reading He was mounted on a mule, and at his pommel hung his crucifix, a little gourd of consecrated oil, and a vial of holy water.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading The troops hauled a single three-pound field-gun with its snout in an old canvas bag and its breech wrapped in palm-leaves.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

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

From this reading The troops hauled a single three-pound field-gun with its snout in an old canvas bag and its breech wrapped in palm-leaves.

a laborer who is obliged to do menial work

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

strike, usually with the fist

From this reading He was mounted on a mule, and at his pommel hung his crucifix, a little gourd of consecrated oil, and a vial of holy water.

a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders

From this reading Not less unbelievable was the priest, Father Benicio, in his black cassock and priest's round black hat.

possessive form of “priest” — a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders

From this reading Not less unbelievable was the priest, Father Benicio, in his black cassock and priest's round black hat.

a disorderly crowd of people

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading Not less unbelievable was the priest, Father Benicio, in his black cassock and priest's round black hat.

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

From this reading To Thomas Strawbridge the expedition against San Geronimo was invested with a sense of unreality.

a general conscious awareness

From this reading To Thomas Strawbridge the expedition against San Geronimo was invested with a sense of unreality.

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading The troops hauled a single three-pound field-gun with its snout in an old canvas bag and its breech wrapped in palm-leaves.

a long projecting or anterior elongation of an animal's head; especially the nose

From this reading The troops hauled a single three-pound field-gun with its snout in an old canvas bag and its breech wrapped in palm-leaves.

plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

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

From this reading To Thomas Strawbridge the expedition against San Geronimo was invested with a sense of unreality.

plural of “sweetheart” — a person loved by another person

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

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

From this reading To Thomas Strawbridge the expedition against San Geronimo was invested with a sense of unreality.

United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)

From this reading To Thomas Strawbridge the expedition against San Geronimo was invested with a sense of unreality.

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

From this reading The troops hauled a single three-pound field-gun with its snout in an old canvas bag and its breech wrapped in palm-leaves.

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

From this reading To Thomas Strawbridge the expedition against San Geronimo was invested with a sense of unreality.

soldiers collectively

From this reading The troops hauled a single three-pound field-gun with its snout in an old canvas bag and its breech wrapped in palm-leaves.

beyond belief or understanding

From this reading Not less unbelievable was the priest, Father Benicio, in his black cassock and priest's round black hat.

the quality possessed by something that is unreal

From this reading To Thomas Strawbridge the expedition against San Geronimo was invested with a sense of unreality.

a small bottle that contains a drug (especially a sealed sterile container for injection by needle)

From this reading He was mounted on a mule, and at his pommel hung his crucifix, a little gourd of consecrated oil, and a vial of holy water.

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

From this reading To Thomas Strawbridge the expedition against San Geronimo was invested with a sense of unreality.

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 He was mounted on a mule, and at his pommel hung his crucifix, a little gourd of consecrated oil, and a vial of holy water.

in the company of; together with

From this reading To Thomas Strawbridge the expedition against San Geronimo was invested with a sense of unreality.

plural of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Every detail of it cast a faint doubt on the credibility of the drummer's impressions--the rabble of peon cavalry, mounted on mules, donkeys, and a few horses; a motley of women--wives, mistresses, and sweethearts of the soldiers--some in carts, some riding donkeys, some on foot.

covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak

From this reading The troops hauled a single three-pound field-gun with its snout in an old canvas bag and its breech wrapped in palm-leaves.