used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Rancho Sierra had long been the rendezvous of the _contrabandista_, a sanctuary for outlaws of every type and description for many years.
adobenounUS /əˈdoʊbi/
the clay from which adobe bricks are made
From this reading The ranch-house was an L-shaped, one-story adobe structure, and so weathered with age that it seemed part of the bluff, which was covered with a growth of mesquite and manzanita.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Situated in the heart of the hills, half-hidden by the overhanging bluff against which it had been built, and commanding a view in three directions, it would be impossible of undetected approach, except at night.
how long something has existed
From this reading The ranch-house was an L-shaped, one-story adobe structure, and so weathered with age that it seemed part of the bluff, which was covered with a growth of mesquite and manzanita.
(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 Steve Guadalupe welcomed them all, took their gold freely, and asked no questions.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The ranch-house was an L-shaped, one-story adobe structure, and so weathered with age that it seemed part of the bluff, which was covered with a growth of mesquite and manzanita.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Rancho Sierra had long been the rendezvous of the _contrabandista_, a sanctuary for outlaws of every type and description for many years.
move towards
From this reading Situated in the heart of the hills, half-hidden by the overhanging bluff against which it had been built, and commanding a view in three directions, it would be impossible of undetected approach, except at night.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Steve Guadalupe welcomed them all, took their gold freely, and asked no questions.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Situated in the heart of the hills, half-hidden by the overhanging bluff against which it had been built, and commanding a view in three directions, it would be impossible of undetected approach, except at night.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Situated in the heart of the hills, half-hidden by the overhanging bluff against which it had been built, and commanding a view in three directions, it would be impossible of undetected approach, except at night.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The Rancho Sierra had long been the rendezvous of the _contrabandista_, a sanctuary for outlaws of every type and description for many years.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading South of the ranch-house extended a long, low, adobe shed, surrounded on the west by a big pole corral, capable of holding many horses.
bluffnounUS /blʌf/
a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)
From this reading Situated in the heart of the hills, half-hidden by the overhanging bluff against which it had been built, and commanding a view in three directions, it would be impossible of undetected approach, except at night.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading Situated in the heart of the hills, half-hidden by the overhanging bluff against which it had been built, and commanding a view in three directions, it would be impossible of undetected approach, except at night.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Situated in the heart of the hills, half-hidden by the overhanging bluff against which it had been built, and commanding a view in three directions, it would be impossible of undetected approach, except at night.
(usually followed by “of”) having capacity or ability
From this reading South of the ranch-house extended a long, low, adobe shed, surrounded on the west by a big pole corral, capable of holding many horses.
commandingadjectiveUS /kəˈmændɪŋ/
used of a height or viewpoint
From this reading Situated in the heart of the hills, half-hidden by the overhanging bluff against which it had been built, and commanding a view in three directions, it would be impossible of undetected approach, except at night.
contrabandista
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Rancho Sierra had long been the rendezvous of the _contrabandista_, a sanctuary for outlaws of every type and description for many years.
corralverbUS /kərˈæl/
enclose in a corral
From this reading South of the ranch-house extended a long, low, adobe shed, surrounded on the west by a big pole corral, capable of holding many horses.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading The ranch-house was an L-shaped, one-story adobe structure, and so weathered with age that it seemed part of the bluff, which was covered with a growth of mesquite and manzanita.
a statement that represents something in words
From this reading The Rancho Sierra had long been the rendezvous of the _contrabandista_, a sanctuary for outlaws of every type and description for many years.
plural of “direction” — a line leading to a place or point
From this reading Situated in the heart of the hills, half-hidden by the overhanging bluff against which it had been built, and commanding a view in three directions, it would be impossible of undetected approach, except at night.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The Rancho Sierra had long been the rendezvous of the _contrabandista_, a sanctuary for outlaws of every type and description for many years.
apart from; not including
From this reading Situated in the heart of the hills, half-hidden by the overhanging bluff against which it had been built, and commanding a view in three directions, it would be impossible of undetected approach, except at night.
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading South of the ranch-house extended a long, low, adobe shed, surrounded on the west by a big pole corral, capable of holding many horses.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The Rancho Sierra had long been the rendezvous of the _contrabandista_, a sanctuary for outlaws of every type and description for many years.
in a free manner
From this reading Steve Guadalupe welcomed them all, took their gold freely, and asked no questions.
coins made of gold
From this reading Steve Guadalupe welcomed them all, took their gold freely, and asked no questions.
growthnounUS /ɡroʊθ/
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading The ranch-house was an L-shaped, one-story adobe structure, and so weathered with age that it seemed part of the bluff, which was covered with a growth of mesquite and manzanita.
Guadalupe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Steve Guadalupe welcomed them all, took their gold freely, and asked no questions.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Rancho Sierra had long been the rendezvous of the _contrabandista_, a sanctuary for outlaws of every type and description for many years.
half-hidden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Situated in the heart of the hills, half-hidden by the overhanging bluff against which it had been built, and commanding a view in three directions, it would be impossible of undetected approach, except at night.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Situated in the heart of the hills, half-hidden by the overhanging bluff against which it had been built, and commanding a view in three directions, it would be impossible of undetected approach, except at night.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Situated in the heart of the hills, half-hidden by the overhanging bluff against which it had been built, and commanding a view in three directions, it would be impossible of undetected approach, except at night.
the act of retaining something
From this reading South of the ranch-house extended a long, low, adobe shed, surrounded on the west by a big pole corral, capable of holding many horses.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading South of the ranch-house extended a long, low, adobe shed, surrounded on the west by a big pole corral, capable of holding many horses.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading Situated in the heart of the hills, half-hidden by the overhanging bluff against which it had been built, and commanding a view in three directions, it would be impossible of undetected approach, except at night.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Situated in the heart of the hills, half-hidden by the overhanging bluff against which it had been built, and commanding a view in three directions, it would be impossible of undetected approach, except at night.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Situated in the heart of the hills, half-hidden by the overhanging bluff against which it had been built, and commanding a view in three directions, it would be impossible of undetected approach, except at night.
L-shapedadjective
shaped in the form of the letter L
From this reading The ranch-house was an L-shaped, one-story adobe structure, and so weathered with age that it seemed part of the bluff, which was covered with a growth of mesquite and manzanita.
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 The Rancho Sierra had long been the rendezvous of the _contrabandista_, a sanctuary for outlaws of every type and description for many years.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading South of the ranch-house extended a long, low, adobe shed, surrounded on the west by a big pole corral, capable of holding many horses.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The Rancho Sierra had long been the rendezvous of the _contrabandista_, a sanctuary for outlaws of every type and description for many years.
manzanitanoun
chiefly evergreen shrubs of warm dry areas of western North America
From this reading The ranch-house was an L-shaped, one-story adobe structure, and so weathered with age that it seemed part of the bluff, which was covered with a growth of mesquite and manzanita.
mesquitenounUS /ˈmeskiːt/
any of several small spiny trees or shrubs of the genus Prosopis having small flowers in axillary cylindrical spikes followed by large pods rich in sugar
From this reading The ranch-house was an L-shaped, one-story adobe structure, and so weathered with age that it seemed part of the bluff, which was covered with a growth of mesquite and manzanita.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Situated in the heart of the hills, half-hidden by the overhanging bluff against which it had been built, and commanding a view in three directions, it would be impossible of undetected approach, except at night.
not any; not one
From this reading Steve Guadalupe welcomed them all, took their gold freely, and asked no questions.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Rancho Sierra had long been the rendezvous of the _contrabandista_, a sanctuary for outlaws of every type and description for many years.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading South of the ranch-house extended a long, low, adobe shed, surrounded on the west by a big pole corral, capable of holding many horses.
one-story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ranch-house was an L-shaped, one-story adobe structure, and so weathered with age that it seemed part of the bluff, which was covered with a growth of mesquite and manzanita.
outlawsnounUS /ˈaʊtlɔːz/
plural of “outlaw” — someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
From this reading The Rancho Sierra had long been the rendezvous of the _contrabandista_, a sanctuary for outlaws of every type and description for many years.
overhangingverbUS /ˈoʊvərhæŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “overhang” — project over
From this reading Situated in the heart of the hills, half-hidden by the overhanging bluff against which it had been built, and commanding a view in three directions, it would be impossible of undetected approach, except at night.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading The ranch-house was an L-shaped, one-story adobe structure, and so weathered with age that it seemed part of the bluff, which was covered with a growth of mesquite and manzanita.
polenounUS /poʊl/
a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
From this reading South of the ranch-house extended a long, low, adobe shed, surrounded on the west by a big pole corral, capable of holding many horses.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading Steve Guadalupe welcomed them all, took their gold freely, and asked no questions.
ranch-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ranch-house was an L-shaped, one-story adobe structure, and so weathered with age that it seemed part of the bluff, which was covered with a growth of mesquite and manzanita.
Rancho
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Rancho Sierra had long been the rendezvous of the _contrabandista_, a sanctuary for outlaws of every type and description for many years.
rendezvousnounUS /ˈrɑːndɪvuː/
a meeting planned at a certain time and place
From this reading The Rancho Sierra had long been the rendezvous of the _contrabandista_, a sanctuary for outlaws of every type and description for many years.
sanctuarynounUS /ˈsæŋk.tʃu.er.i/
A place of safety, refuge, or holy retreat within the academy.
From this reading The Rancho Sierra had long been the rendezvous of the _contrabandista_, a sanctuary for outlaws of every type and description for many years.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The ranch-house was an L-shaped, one-story adobe structure, and so weathered with age that it seemed part of the bluff, which was covered with a growth of mesquite and manzanita.
get rid of
From this reading South of the ranch-house extended a long, low, adobe shed, surrounded on the west by a big pole corral, capable of holding many horses.
SierranounUS /siˈerə/
a range of mountains (usually with jagged peaks and irregular outline)
From this reading The Rancho Sierra had long been the rendezvous of the _contrabandista_, a sanctuary for outlaws of every type and description for many years.
SituatedadjectiveUS /ˈsɪtʃuːeɪtɪd/
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading Situated in the heart of the hills, half-hidden by the overhanging bluff against which it had been built, and commanding a view in three directions, it would be impossible of undetected approach, except at night.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The ranch-house was an L-shaped, one-story adobe structure, and so weathered with age that it seemed part of the bluff, which was covered with a growth of mesquite and manzanita.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading South of the ranch-house extended a long, low, adobe shed, surrounded on the west by a big pole corral, capable of holding many horses.
Steve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Steve Guadalupe welcomed them all, took their gold freely, and asked no questions.
structurenounUS /ˈstrʌktʃər/
a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts
From this reading The ranch-house was an L-shaped, one-story adobe structure, and so weathered with age that it seemed part of the bluff, which was covered with a growth of mesquite and manzanita.
confined on all sides
From this reading South of the ranch-house extended a long, low, adobe shed, surrounded on the west by a big pole corral, capable of holding many horses.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The ranch-house was an L-shaped, one-story adobe structure, and so weathered with age that it seemed part of the bluff, which was covered with a growth of mesquite and manzanita.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Rancho Sierra had long been the rendezvous of the _contrabandista_, a sanctuary for outlaws of every type and description for many years.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Steve Guadalupe welcomed them all, took their gold freely, and asked no questions.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Steve Guadalupe welcomed them all, took their gold freely, and asked no questions.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Situated in the heart of the hills, half-hidden by the overhanging bluff against which it had been built, and commanding a view in three directions, it would be impossible of undetected approach, except at night.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Steve Guadalupe welcomed them all, took their gold freely, and asked no questions.
a subdivision of a particular kind of thing
From this reading The Rancho Sierra had long been the rendezvous of the _contrabandista_, a sanctuary for outlaws of every type and description for many years.
undetectedadjectiveUS /ˌʌndɪˈtektɪd/
not perceived or discerned
From this reading Situated in the heart of the hills, half-hidden by the overhanging bluff against which it had been built, and commanding a view in three directions, it would be impossible of undetected approach, except at night.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading Situated in the heart of the hills, half-hidden by the overhanging bluff against which it had been built, and commanding a view in three directions, it would be impossible of undetected approach, except at night.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The ranch-house was an L-shaped, one-story adobe structure, and so weathered with age that it seemed part of the bluff, which was covered with a growth of mesquite and manzanita.
weatheredadjectiveUS /ˈweðərd/
worn by exposure to the weather
From this reading The ranch-house was an L-shaped, one-story adobe structure, and so weathered with age that it seemed part of the bluff, which was covered with a growth of mesquite and manzanita.
welcomedverbUS /ˈwelkəmd/
past form of “welcome” — accept gladly
From this reading Steve Guadalupe welcomed them all, took their gold freely, and asked no questions.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading South of the ranch-house extended a long, low, adobe shed, surrounded on the west by a big pole corral, capable of holding many horses.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Situated in the heart of the hills, half-hidden by the overhanging bluff against which it had been built, and commanding a view in three directions, it would be impossible of undetected approach, except at night.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The ranch-house was an L-shaped, one-story adobe structure, and so weathered with age that it seemed part of the bluff, which was covered with a growth of mesquite and manzanita.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Situated in the heart of the hills, half-hidden by the overhanging bluff against which it had been built, and commanding a view in three directions, it would be impossible of undetected approach, except at night.
a late time of life
From this reading The Rancho Sierra had long been the rendezvous of the _contrabandista_, a sanctuary for outlaws of every type and description for many years.
