adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Over in the Houston hotel a crowd of cowboys was lounging in the barroom.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 Their mounts, twelve in all, were switching flies from their quivering skins in the corral at the rear.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Few people were on the streets and the town was quiet.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading Buckskin was very hot; in fact it was never anything else.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They were very quiet--a condition as rare as it was ominous.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Their mounts, twelve in all, were switching flies from their quivering skins in the corral at the rear.
barroomnounUS /ˈbɑːrruːm/
a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter
From this reading Over in the Houston hotel a crowd of cowboys was lounging in the barroom.
BuckskinnounUS /ˈbʌkskɪn/
horse of a light yellowish dun color with dark mane and tail
From this reading Buckskin was very hot; in fact it was never anything else.
conditionnounUS /kənˈdɪʃən/
a state at a particular time
From this reading They were very quiet--a condition as rare as it was ominous.
corralverbUS /kərˈæl/
enclose in a corral
From this reading Their mounts, twelve in all, were switching flies from their quivering skins in the corral at the rear.
cowboysnounUS /ˈkaʊbɔɪz/
plural of “cowboy” — a hired hand who tends cattle and performs other duties on horseback
From this reading Over in the Houston hotel a crowd of cowboys was lounging in the barroom.
crowdverbUS /kraʊd/
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading Over in the Houston hotel a crowd of cowboys was lounging in the barroom.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Buckskin was very hot; in fact it was never anything else.
factnounUS /fækt/
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Buckskin was very hot; in fact it was never anything else.
FewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Few people were on the streets and the town was quiet.
fliesnounUS /flaɪz/
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading Their mounts, twelve in all, were switching flies from their quivering skins in the corral at the rear.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Their mounts, twelve in all, were switching flies from their quivering skins in the corral at the rear.
hotadjectiveUS /hɑːt/
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading Buckskin was very hot; in fact it was never anything else.
hotelnounUS /hoʊˈtel/
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading Over in the Houston hotel a crowd of cowboys was lounging in the barroom.
HoustonnounUS /ˈhjuːstən/
the largest city in Texas; located in southeastern Texas near the Gulf of Mexico; site of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
From this reading Over in the Houston hotel a crowd of cowboys was lounging in the barroom.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Buckskin was very hot; in fact it was never anything else.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Buckskin was very hot; in fact it was never anything else.
loungingverbUS /ˈlaʊndʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “lounge” — sit or recline comfortably
From this reading Over in the Houston hotel a crowd of cowboys was lounging in the barroom.
mountsnounUS /maʊnts/
plural of “mount” — a lightweight horse kept for riding only
From this reading Their mounts, twelve in all, were switching flies from their quivering skins in the corral at the rear.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Buckskin was very hot; in fact it was never anything else.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Over in the Houston hotel a crowd of cowboys was lounging in the barroom.
ominousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːmənəs/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading They were very quiet--a condition as rare as it was ominous.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Few people were on the streets and the town was quiet.
OverprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Over in the Houston hotel a crowd of cowboys was lounging in the barroom.
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Few people were on the streets and the town was quiet.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading Few people were on the streets and the town was quiet.
quiveringnounUS /ˈkwɪvərɪŋ/
a shaky motion
From this reading Their mounts, twelve in all, were switching flies from their quivering skins in the corral at the rear.
rareadjectiveUS /rer/
not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading They were very quiet--a condition as rare as it was ominous.
rearnounUS /rɪr/
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading Their mounts, twelve in all, were switching flies from their quivering skins in the corral at the rear.
skinsnounUS /skɪnz/
plural of “skin” — a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading Their mounts, twelve in all, were switching flies from their quivering skins in the corral at the rear.
streetsnounUS /striːts/
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Few people were on the streets and the town was quiet.
switchingnounUS /ˈswɪtʃɪŋ/
the act of changing one thing or position for another
From this reading Their mounts, twelve in all, were switching flies from their quivering skins in the corral at the rear.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Few people were on the streets and the town was quiet.
TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their mounts, twelve in all, were switching flies from their quivering skins in the corral at the rear.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were very quiet--a condition as rare as it was ominous.
townnounUS /taʊn/
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Few people were on the streets and the town was quiet.
twelvenounUS /twelv/
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading Their mounts, twelve in all, were switching flies from their quivering skins in the corral at the rear.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading Buckskin was very hot; in fact it was never anything else.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Buckskin was very hot; in fact it was never anything else.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Few people were on the streets and the town was quiet.
