used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading It was a man, evidently an American by his appearance; and as they looked back at him, he seemed to check the hitherto brisk gait of his horse.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was a man, evidently an American by his appearance; and as they looked back at him, he seemed to check the hitherto brisk gait of his horse.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading It was a man, evidently an American by his appearance; and as they looked back at him, he seemed to check the hitherto brisk gait of his horse.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was a man, evidently an American by his appearance; and as they looked back at him, he seemed to check the hitherto brisk gait of his horse.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was a man, evidently an American by his appearance; and as they looked back at him, he seemed to check the hitherto brisk gait of his horse.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading It was a man, evidently an American by his appearance; and as they looked back at him, he seemed to check the hitherto brisk gait of his horse.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
briskadjectiveUS /brɪsk/
quick and energetic
From this reading It was a man, evidently an American by his appearance; and as they looked back at him, he seemed to check the hitherto brisk gait of his horse.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was a man, evidently an American by his appearance; and as they looked back at him, he seemed to check the hitherto brisk gait of his horse.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
chargesnounUS /ˈtʃɑːrdʒəz/
plural of “charge” — an impetuous rush toward someone or something
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
From this reading It was a man, evidently an American by his appearance; and as they looked back at him, he seemed to check the hitherto brisk gait of his horse.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
Doak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
Dorothy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dorothy was the first to recognize him.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading "Oh, Mary, 't is that dreadful man who frightened us!"
echoedverbUS /ˈekoʊd/
past form of “echo” — to say again or imitate
From this reading "Frightened ye?" echoed Doak, interrogatively.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading It was a man, evidently an American by his appearance; and as they looked back at him, he seemed to check the hitherto brisk gait of his horse.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Dorothy was the first to recognize him.
made afraid
From this reading "Oh, Mary, 't is that dreadful man who frightened us!"
gaitnounUS /ɡeɪt/
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading It was a man, evidently an American by his appearance; and as they looked back at him, he seemed to check the hitherto brisk gait of his horse.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was a man, evidently an American by his appearance; and as they looked back at him, he seemed to check the hitherto brisk gait of his horse.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was a man, evidently an American by his appearance; and as they looked back at him, he seemed to check the hitherto brisk gait of his horse.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
From this reading It was a man, evidently an American by his appearance; and as they looked back at him, he seemed to check the hitherto brisk gait of his horse.
hoofsnounUS /hʊfs/
plural of “hoof” — the foot of an ungulate mammal
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading It was a man, evidently an American by his appearance; and as they looked back at him, he seemed to check the hitherto brisk gait of his horse.
interrogativelyadverb
in a questioning format
From this reading "Frightened ye?" echoed Doak, interrogatively.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Oh, Mary, 't is that dreadful man who frightened us!"
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a man, evidently an American by his appearance; and as they looked back at him, he seemed to check the hitherto brisk gait of his horse.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading It was a man, evidently an American by his appearance; and as they looked back at him, he seemed to check the hitherto brisk gait of his horse.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It was a man, evidently an American by his appearance; and as they looked back at him, he seemed to check the hitherto brisk gait of his horse.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading "Oh, Mary, 't is that dreadful man who frightened us!"
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading "Oh, Mary, 't is that dreadful man who frightened us!"
recognizeverbUS /ˈrekəɡnaɪz/
accept (someone) to be what is claimed or accept his power and authority
From this reading Dorothy was the first to recognize him.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It was a man, evidently an American by his appearance; and as they looked back at him, he seemed to check the hitherto brisk gait of his horse.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
a base found in DNA (but not in RNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine
From this reading "Oh, Mary, 't is that dreadful man who frightened us!"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Oh, Mary, 't is that dreadful man who frightened us!"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was a man, evidently an American by his appearance; and as they looked back at him, he seemed to check the hitherto brisk gait of his horse.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Oh, Mary, 't is that dreadful man who frightened us!"
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a man, evidently an American by his appearance; and as they looked back at him, he seemed to check the hitherto brisk gait of his horse.
at the time that
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
which person or people
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
showing curiosity
From this reading Doak and his charges had gone but a short distance when the sound of hoofs behind them caused all three to turn, wondering who might be approaching.
an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person
From this reading "Frightened ye?" echoed Doak, interrogatively.
