used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But it was hardly likely that the cowboys would stand their ground long under such a fire.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As fast as they could Frank and Barney worked the repeaters.
Artemas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Artemas Cliff knew the fatality of remaining there.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As fast as they could Frank and Barney worked the repeaters.
Barney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As fast as they could Frank and Barney worked the repeaters.
Beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Being unable to catch the man, he knew that their only hope now was in retreat.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it was hardly likely that the cowboys would stand their ground long under such a fire.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Being unable to catch the man, he knew that their only hope now was in retreat.
a steep high face of rock
From this reading But Artemas Cliff knew the fatality of remaining there.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading As fast as they could Frank and Barney worked the repeaters.
cowboysnounUS /ˈkaʊbɔɪz/
plural of “cowboy” — a hired hand who tends cattle and performs other duties on horseback
From this reading But it was hardly likely that the cowboys would stand their ground long under such a fire.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading The result was that quite a number of the foe lay dead upon the prairie.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading As fast as they could Frank and Barney worked the repeaters.
fatalitynounUS /fəˈtælɪti/
a death resulting from an accident or a disaster
From this reading But Artemas Cliff knew the fatality of remaining there.
start firing a weapon
From this reading But it was hardly likely that the cowboys would stand their ground long under such a fire.
foenounUS /foʊ/
an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)
From this reading The result was that quite a number of the foe lay dead upon the prairie.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading As fast as they could Frank and Barney worked the repeaters.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading But it was hardly likely that the cowboys would stand their ground long under such a fire.
only a very short time before
From this reading But it was hardly likely that the cowboys would stand their ground long under such a fire.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Being unable to catch the man, he knew that their only hope now was in retreat.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Being unable to catch the man, he knew that their only hope now was in retreat.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Being unable to catch the man, he knew that their only hope now was in retreat.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it was hardly likely that the cowboys would stand their ground long under such a fire.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading But Artemas Cliff knew the fatality of remaining there.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The result was that quite a number of the foe lay dead upon the prairie.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading But it was hardly likely that the cowboys would stand their ground long under such a fire.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading But it was hardly likely that the cowboys would stand their ground long under such a fire.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Being unable to catch the man, he knew that their only hope now was in retreat.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Being unable to catch the man, he knew that their only hope now was in retreat.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading The result was that quite a number of the foe lay dead upon the prairie.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The result was that quite a number of the foe lay dead upon the prairie.
and nothing more
From this reading Being unable to catch the man, he knew that their only hope now was in retreat.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading The result was that quite a number of the foe lay dead upon the prairie.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The result was that quite a number of the foe lay dead upon the prairie.
not used up
From this reading But Artemas Cliff knew the fatality of remaining there.
repeatersnounUS /rɪˈpiːtərz/
plural of “repeater” — a person who repeats
From this reading As fast as they could Frank and Barney worked the repeaters.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading The result was that quite a number of the foe lay dead upon the prairie.
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading Being unable to catch the man, he knew that their only hope now was in retreat.
be standing; be upright
From this reading But it was hardly likely that the cowboys would stand their ground long under such a fire.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading But it was hardly likely that the cowboys would stand their ground long under such a fire.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But it was hardly likely that the cowboys would stand their ground long under such a fire.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But it was hardly likely that the cowboys would stand their ground long under such a fire.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But it was hardly likely that the cowboys would stand their ground long under such a fire.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But Artemas Cliff knew the fatality of remaining there.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As fast as they could Frank and Barney worked the repeaters.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Being unable to catch the man, he knew that their only hope now was in retreat.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading Being unable to catch the man, he knew that their only hope now was in retreat.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading But it was hardly likely that the cowboys would stand their ground long under such a fire.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The result was that quite a number of the foe lay dead upon the prairie.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But it was hardly likely that the cowboys would stand their ground long under such a fire.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading As fast as they could Frank and Barney worked the repeaters.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But it was hardly likely that the cowboys would stand their ground long under such a fire.
