Chapter XV · What Happened at the Rancho

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

(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 “They’re so fur off that I couldn’t have heard ‘em at all if the wind hadn’t brought the sound of their horses’ feet to me,” was the herdsman’s answer.

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

From this reading “But they’re comin’ fast, an’ they’ll be here in five minutes.

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

From this reading “You have not an instant to lose,” said our hero, turning to the frightened boys and speaking as rapidly as he could.

react verbally

From this reading “They’re so fur off that I couldn’t have heard ‘em at all if the wind hadn’t brought the sound of their horses’ feet to me,” was the herdsman’s answer.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading “You have not an instant to lose,” said our hero, turning to the frightened boys and speaking as rapidly as he could.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading “They’re so fur off that I couldn’t have heard ‘em at all if the wind hadn’t brought the sound of their horses’ feet to me,” was the herdsman’s answer.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

in addition to; as well as

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading “You have not an instant to lose,” said our hero, turning to the frightened boys and speaking as rapidly as he could.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading “They’re so fur off that I couldn’t have heard ‘em at all if the wind hadn’t brought the sound of their horses’ feet to me,” was the herdsman’s answer.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “But they’re comin’ fast, an’ they’ll be here in five minutes.

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

From this reading “But they’re comin’ fast, an’ they’ll be here in five minutes.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “You have not an instant to lose,” said our hero, turning to the frightened boys and speaking as rapidly as he could.

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

From this reading “They’re so fur off that I couldn’t have heard ‘em at all if the wind hadn’t brought the sound of their horses’ feet to me,” was the herdsman’s answer.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading The horses are waitin’ at the door!”

a quad with a square body

From this reading “They’re so fur off that I couldn’t have heard ‘em at all if the wind hadn’t brought the sound of their horses’ feet to me,” was the herdsman’s answer.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)

From this reading “But they’re comin’ fast, an’ they’ll be here in five minutes.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading “They’re so fur off that I couldn’t have heard ‘em at all if the wind hadn’t brought the sound of their horses’ feet to me,” was the herdsman’s answer.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading “But they’re comin’ fast, an’ they’ll be here in five minutes.

made afraid

From this reading “You have not an instant to lose,” said our hero, turning to the frightened boys and speaking as rapidly as he could.

the dressed hairy coat of a mammal

From this reading “They’re so fur off that I couldn’t have heard ‘em at all if the wind hadn’t brought the sound of their horses’ feet to me,” was the herdsman’s answer.

Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

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

From this reading “They’re so fur off that I couldn’t have heard ‘em at all if the wind hadn’t brought the sound of their horses’ feet to me,” was the herdsman’s answer.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “They’re so fur off that I couldn’t have heard ‘em at all if the wind hadn’t brought the sound of their horses’ feet to me,” was the herdsman’s answer.

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

From this reading “You have not an instant to lose,” said our hero, turning to the frightened boys and speaking as rapidly as he could.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading “They’re so fur off that I couldn’t have heard ‘em at all if the wind hadn’t brought the sound of their horses’ feet to me,” was the herdsman’s answer.

someone who drives a herd

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

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

From this reading “They’re so fur off that I couldn’t have heard ‘em at all if the wind hadn’t brought the sound of their horses’ feet to me,” was the herdsman’s answer.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading “But they’re comin’ fast, an’ they’ll be here in five minutes.

a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength

From this reading “You have not an instant to lose,” said our hero, turning to the frightened boys and speaking as rapidly as he could.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

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

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

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

From this reading “They’re so fur off that I couldn’t have heard ‘em at all if the wind hadn’t brought the sound of their horses’ feet to me,” was the herdsman’s answer.

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

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “They’re so fur off that I couldn’t have heard ‘em at all if the wind hadn’t brought the sound of their horses’ feet to me,” was the herdsman’s answer.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “They’re so fur off that I couldn’t have heard ‘em at all if the wind hadn’t brought the sound of their horses’ feet to me,” was the herdsman’s answer.

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

From this reading “But they’re comin’ fast, an’ they’ll be here in five minutes.

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)

From this reading “You have not an instant to lose,” said our hero, turning to the frightened boys and speaking as rapidly as he could.

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

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense

From this reading “You have not an instant to lose,” said our hero, turning to the frightened boys and speaking as rapidly as he could.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “They’re so fur off that I couldn’t have heard ‘em at all if the wind hadn’t brought the sound of their horses’ feet to me,” was the herdsman’s answer.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading “But they’re comin’ fast, an’ they’ll be here in five minutes.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading “You have not an instant to lose,” said our hero, turning to the frightened boys and speaking as rapidly as he could.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading “They’re so fur off that I couldn’t have heard ‘em at all if the wind hadn’t brought the sound of their horses’ feet to me,” was the herdsman’s answer.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

and nothing more

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading “You have not an instant to lose,” said our hero, turning to the frightened boys and speaking as rapidly as he could.

with speed

From this reading “You have not an instant to lose,” said our hero, turning to the frightened boys and speaking as rapidly as he could.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “You have not an instant to lose,” said our hero, turning to the frightened boys and speaking as rapidly as he could.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading “They’re so fur off that I couldn’t have heard ‘em at all if the wind hadn’t brought the sound of their horses’ feet to me,” was the herdsman’s answer.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading “They’re so fur off that I couldn’t have heard ‘em at all if the wind hadn’t brought the sound of their horses’ feet to me,” was the herdsman’s answer.

the utterance of intelligible speech

From this reading “You have not an instant to lose,” said our hero, turning to the frightened boys and speaking as rapidly as he could.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “They’re so fur off that I couldn’t have heard ‘em at all if the wind hadn’t brought the sound of their horses’ feet to me,” was the herdsman’s answer.

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

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading “They’re so fur off that I couldn’t have heard ‘em at all if the wind hadn’t brought the sound of their horses’ feet to me,” was the herdsman’s answer.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

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

From this reading “But they’re comin’ fast, an’ they’ll be here in five minutes.

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

From this reading “They’re so fur off that I couldn’t have heard ‘em at all if the wind hadn’t brought the sound of their horses’ feet to me,” was the herdsman’s answer.

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

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading “You have not an instant to lose,” said our hero, turning to the frightened boys and speaking as rapidly as he could.

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

From this reading The horses are waitin’ at the door!”

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

From this reading “They’re so fur off that I couldn’t have heard ‘em at all if the wind hadn’t brought the sound of their horses’ feet to me,” was the herdsman’s answer.

which person or people

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading “They’re so fur off that I couldn’t have heard ‘em at all if the wind hadn’t brought the sound of their horses’ feet to me,” was the herdsman’s answer.

the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception

From this reading “How far away are they, Jake?” asked George, who seemed to be the only one besides the herdsman who had any of his wits left about him.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “You have not an instant to lose,” said our hero, turning to the frightened boys and speaking as rapidly as he could.