Chapter IX · Chapter 9

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

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

any of various water-soluble compounds capable of turning litmus blue and reacting with an acid to form a salt and water

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

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

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

curved down like an eagle's beak

From this reading His rider seemed to be charmed into patience, and yet his aquiline face was not the face of a patient man.

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

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

From this reading His rider seemed to be charmed into patience, and yet his aquiline face was not the face of a patient man.

a fire (usually on a hill or tower) that can be seen from a distance

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.

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

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.

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

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

strongly attracted

From this reading His rider seemed to be charmed into patience, and yet his aquiline face was not the face of a patient man.

Causing difficulty in breathing.

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

make overcast or cloudy

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

free from clouds

From this reading He rode down Crazy Woman's Hill toward the sagebrush flat, where, in a half-circle of cloudless, snow-streaked mountains, lay the town of Millings on its rapid glacier river.

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

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

a sudden noisy expulsion of air from the lungs that clears the air passages; a common symptom of upper respiratory infection or bronchitis or pneumonia or tuberculosis

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

affected with madness or insanity

From this reading He rode down Crazy Woman's Hill toward the sagebrush flat, where, in a half-circle of cloudless, snow-streaked mountains, lay the town of Millings on its rapid glacier river.

(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading He rode down Crazy Woman's Hill toward the sagebrush flat, where, in a half-circle of cloudless, snow-streaked mountains, lay the town of Millings on its rapid glacier river.

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

remove the dust from

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

undergo or live through a difficult experience

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.

opinion or judgment

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.

having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another

From this reading He rode down Crazy Woman's Hill toward the sagebrush flat, where, in a half-circle of cloudless, snow-streaked mountains, lay the town of Millings on its rapid glacier river.

plural of “fold” — an angular or rounded shape made by folding

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

a slowly moving mass of ice

From this reading He rode down Crazy Woman's Hill toward the sagebrush flat, where, in a half-circle of cloudless, snow-streaked mountains, lay the town of Millings on its rapid glacier river.

having the deep slightly brownish color of gold

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

of white tinged with grey

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

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

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

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

From this reading He rode down Crazy Woman's Hill toward the sagebrush flat, where, in a half-circle of cloudless, snow-streaked mountains, lay the town of Millings on its rapid glacier river.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.

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

From this reading He rode down Crazy Woman's Hill toward the sagebrush flat, where, in a half-circle of cloudless, snow-streaked mountains, lay the town of Millings on its rapid glacier river.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading He rode down Crazy Woman's Hill toward the sagebrush flat, where, in a half-circle of cloudless, snow-streaked mountains, lay the town of Millings on its rapid glacier river.

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

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

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

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

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

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

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

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

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

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading His rider seemed to be charmed into patience, and yet his aquiline face was not the face of a patient man.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading He rode down Crazy Woman's Hill toward the sagebrush flat, where, in a half-circle of cloudless, snow-streaked mountains, lay the town of Millings on its rapid glacier river.

having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.

plural of “land” — the land on which real estate is located

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading He rode down Crazy Woman's Hill toward the sagebrush flat, where, in a half-circle of cloudless, snow-streaked mountains, lay the town of Millings on its rapid glacier river.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading His rider seemed to be charmed into patience, and yet his aquiline face was not the face of a patient man.

possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.

provided with a worthy adversary or competitor

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

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

From this reading He rode down Crazy Woman's Hill toward the sagebrush flat, where, in a half-circle of cloudless, snow-streaked mountains, lay the town of Millings on its rapid glacier river.

a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

the natural satellite of the Earth

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

plural of “mosquito” — two-winged insect whose female has a long proboscis to pierce the skin and suck the blood of humans and animals

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.

plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading He rode down Crazy Woman's Hill toward the sagebrush flat, where, in a half-circle of cloudless, snow-streaked mountains, lay the town of Millings on its rapid glacier river.

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.

(of liquids) clouded as with sediment

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

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

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

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

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading His rider seemed to be charmed into patience, and yet his aquiline face was not the face of a patient man.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

of a yellow-green color similar to that of an unripe olive

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He rode down Crazy Woman's Hill toward the sagebrush flat, where, in a half-circle of cloudless, snow-streaked mountains, lay the town of Millings on its rapid glacier river.

round yellow to orange fruit of any of several citrus trees

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

in an original manner

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence

From this reading His rider seemed to be charmed into patience, and yet his aquiline face was not the face of a patient man.

a person who requires medical care

From this reading His rider seemed to be charmed into patience, and yet his aquiline face was not the face of a patient man.

inflected form of “plod” — walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

a range horse of the western United States

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

consisting of fine particles

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

plural of “presence” — the state of being present; current existence

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

done or occurring in a brief period of time

From this reading He rode down Crazy Woman's Hill toward the sagebrush flat, where, in a half-circle of cloudless, snow-streaked mountains, lay the town of Millings on its rapid glacier river.

a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)

From this reading His rider seemed to be charmed into patience, and yet his aquiline face was not the face of a patient man.

plural of “ridge” — a long narrow natural elevation or striation

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading He rode down Crazy Woman's Hill toward the sagebrush flat, where, in a half-circle of cloudless, snow-streaked mountains, lay the town of Millings on its rapid glacier river.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

any of several North American composite subshrubs of the genera Artemis or Seriphidium

From this reading He rode down Crazy Woman's Hill toward the sagebrush flat, where, in a half-circle of cloudless, snow-streaked mountains, lay the town of Millings on its rapid glacier river.

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

From this reading His rider seemed to be charmed into patience, and yet his aquiline face was not the face of a patient man.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

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

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

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

From this reading He rode down Crazy Woman's Hill toward the sagebrush flat, where, in a half-circle of cloudless, snow-streaked mountains, lay the town of Millings on its rapid glacier river.

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.

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

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.

past form of “straighten” — straighten up or out; make straight

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.

marked with or as if with stripes or linear discolorations

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

a moving crowd

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

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

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.

past form of “tighten” — make tight or tighter

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.

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

From this reading His rider seemed to be charmed into patience, and yet his aquiline face was not the face of a patient man.

-ing form of “torment” — torment emotionally or mentally

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

-ing form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

in the direction of

From this reading He rode down Crazy Woman's Hill toward the sagebrush flat, where, in a half-circle of cloudless, snow-streaked mountains, lay the town of Millings on its rapid glacier river.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading He rode down Crazy Woman's Hill toward the sagebrush flat, where, in a half-circle of cloudless, snow-streaked mountains, lay the town of Millings on its rapid glacier river.

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

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

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

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

in a weary manner

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

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

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.

in or at the place that

From this reading He rode down Crazy Woman's Hill toward the sagebrush flat, where, in a half-circle of cloudless, snow-streaked mountains, lay the town of Millings on its rapid glacier river.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Hilliard's black hair was powdered with dust; his olive face was gray; dust lay thick in the folds of his neck-handkerchief; his pony matched the gray-white road and plodded wearily, coughing and tossing his head in misery from the nose-flies, the horse-flies, the mosquitoes, a swarm of small, tormenting presences.

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

From this reading He rode down Crazy Woman's Hill toward the sagebrush flat, where, in a half-circle of cloudless, snow-streaked mountains, lay the town of Millings on its rapid glacier river.

a state in the western United States; mountainous in the west and north with the Great Plains in the east

From this reading THE BEACON LIGHT Out of the Wyoming Bad Lands--orange, turquoise-green, and murky blue, of outlandish ridges, of streaked rock, of sudden, twisted cañons, a country like a dream of the far side of the moon--rode Cosme Hilliard in a choking cloud of alkali dust.

but in spite of that

From this reading His rider seemed to be charmed into patience, and yet his aquiline face was not the face of a patient man.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading It was young in a keen, hard fashion; the mouth and eyes were those of a Spanish-American mother, golden eyes and a mouth originally beautiful, soft, and cruel, which had been tightened and straightened by a man's will and experience.