Chapter IX

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

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading He led his party almost north; this course they held until they reached the head waters of the Platte.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading Winter was now upon them in the midst of the mountains; the snow filled the defiles, the icy wind moaned in the naked trees and among the crags.

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

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

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

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At each camp enough “half faced” houses were erected to shelter the men from the wind and snow.

in addition to; as well as

From this reading But besides their buckskins the trappers now wore thick furs; and the warm blood of a vigorous life in the hills and on the prairies made the experience only one of increased pleasure to the hardy border men.

The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.

From this reading But besides their buckskins the trappers now wore thick furs; and the warm blood of a vigorous life in the hills and on the prairies made the experience only one of increased pleasure to the hardy border men.

a line that indicates a boundary

From this reading But besides their buckskins the trappers now wore thick furs; and the warm blood of a vigorous life in the hills and on the prairies made the experience only one of increased pleasure to the hardy border men.

(used in the plural) breeches made of buckskin

From this reading But besides their buckskins the trappers now wore thick furs; and the warm blood of a vigorous life in the hills and on the prairies made the experience only one of increased pleasure to the hardy border men.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But besides their buckskins the trappers now wore thick furs; and the warm blood of a vigorous life in the hills and on the prairies made the experience only one of increased pleasure to the hardy border men.

temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers

From this reading At each camp enough “half faced” houses were erected to shelter the men from the wind and snow.

United States biologist remembered for her opposition to the use of pesticides that were hazardous to wildlife (1907-1964)

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading He led his party almost north; this course they held until they reached the head waters of the Platte.

plural of “crag” — a steep rugged rock or cliff

From this reading Winter was now upon them in the midst of the mountains; the snow filled the defiles, the icy wind moaned in the naked trees and among the crags.

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

From this reading Winter was now upon them in the midst of the mountains; the snow filled the defiles, the icy wind moaned in the naked trees and among the crags.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading At each camp enough “half faced” houses were erected to shelter the men from the wind and snow.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading At each camp enough “half faced” houses were erected to shelter the men from the wind and snow.

past form of “erect” — construct, build, or erect

From this reading At each camp enough “half faced” houses were erected to shelter the men from the wind and snow.

a military campaign designed to achieve a specific objective in a foreign country

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

undergo or live through a difficult experience

From this reading But besides their buckskins the trappers now wore thick furs; and the warm blood of a vigorous life in the hills and on the prairies made the experience only one of increased pleasure to the hardy border men.

having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination

From this reading At each camp enough “half faced” houses were erected to shelter the men from the wind and snow.

(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with

From this reading Winter was now upon them in the midst of the mountains; the snow filled the defiles, the icy wind moaned in the naked trees and among the crags.

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

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading At each camp enough “half faced” houses were erected to shelter the men from the wind and snow.

the dressed hairy coat of a mammal

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

plural of “fur” — the dressed hairy coat of a mammal

From this reading But besides their buckskins the trappers now wore thick furs; and the warm blood of a vigorous life in the hills and on the prairies made the experience only one of increased pleasure to the hardy border men.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading At each camp enough “half faced” houses were erected to shelter the men from the wind and snow.

having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

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

From this reading He led his party almost north; this course they held until they reached the head waters of the Platte.

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

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading He led his party almost north; this course they held until they reached the head waters of the Platte.

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading But besides their buckskins the trappers now wore thick furs; and the warm blood of a vigorous life in the hills and on the prairies made the experience only one of increased pleasure to the hardy border men.

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

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

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

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading At each camp enough “half faced” houses were erected to shelter the men from the wind and snow.

the pursuit and killing or capture of wild animals regarded as a sport

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain

From this reading Winter was now upon them in the midst of the mountains; the snow filled the defiles, the icy wind moaned in the naked trees and among the crags.

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

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

made greater in size or amount or degree

From this reading But besides their buckskins the trappers now wore thick furs; and the warm blood of a vigorous life in the hills and on the prairies made the experience only one of increased pleasure to the hardy border men.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

a case for containing a set of articles

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used

From this reading He led his party almost north; this course they held until they reached the head waters of the Platte.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading But besides their buckskins the trappers now wore thick furs; and the warm blood of a vigorous life in the hills and on the prairies made the experience only one of increased pleasure to the hardy border men.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

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

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

the force of workers available

From this reading But besides their buckskins the trappers now wore thick furs; and the warm blood of a vigorous life in the hills and on the prairies made the experience only one of increased pleasure to the hardy border men.

the location of something surrounded by other things

From this reading Winter was now upon them in the midst of the mountains; the snow filled the defiles, the icy wind moaned in the naked trees and among the crags.

past form of “moan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure

From this reading Winter was now upon them in the midst of the mountains; the snow filled the defiles, the icy wind moaned in the naked trees and among the crags.

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

From this reading Winter was now upon them in the midst of the mountains; the snow filled the defiles, the icy wind moaned in the naked trees and among the crags.

completely unclothed

From this reading Winter was now upon them in the midst of the mountains; the snow filled the defiles, the icy wind moaned in the naked trees and among the crags.

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading He led his party almost north; this course they held until they reached the head waters of the Platte.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But besides their buckskins the trappers now wore thick furs; and the warm blood of a vigorous life in the hills and on the prairies made the experience only one of increased pleasure to the hardy border men.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

and nothing more

From this reading But besides their buckskins the trappers now wore thick furs; and the warm blood of a vigorous life in the hills and on the prairies made the experience only one of increased pleasure to the hardy border men.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

an organization to gain political power

From this reading He led his party almost north; this course they held until they reached the head waters of the Platte.

a river in Nebraska that flows eastward to become a tributary of the Missouri River

From this reading He led his party almost north; this course they held until they reached the head waters of the Platte.

a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience

From this reading But besides their buckskins the trappers now wore thick furs; and the warm blood of a vigorous life in the hills and on the prairies made the experience only one of increased pleasure to the hardy border men.

plural of “prairie” — a treeless grassy plain

From this reading But besides their buckskins the trappers now wore thick furs; and the warm blood of a vigorous life in the hills and on the prairies made the experience only one of increased pleasure to the hardy border men.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading He led his party almost north; this course they held until they reached the head waters of the Platte.

a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger

From this reading At each camp enough “half faced” houses were erected to shelter the men from the wind and snow.

plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading Winter was now upon them in the midst of the mountains; the snow filled the defiles, the icy wind moaned in the naked trees and among the crags.

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

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading But besides their buckskins the trappers now wore thick furs; and the warm blood of a vigorous life in the hills and on the prairies made the experience only one of increased pleasure to the hardy border men.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Winter was now upon them in the midst of the mountains; the snow filled the defiles, the icy wind moaned in the naked trees and among the crags.

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

From this reading He led his party almost north; this course they held until they reached the head waters of the Platte.

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 But besides their buckskins the trappers now wore thick furs; and the warm blood of a vigorous life in the hills and on the prairies made the experience only one of increased pleasure to the hardy border men.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading He led his party almost north; this course they held until they reached the head waters of the Platte.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

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

From this reading But besides their buckskins the trappers now wore thick furs; and the warm blood of a vigorous life in the hills and on the prairies made the experience only one of increased pleasure to the hardy border men.

someone who sets traps for animals (usually to obtain their furs)

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

plural of “trapper” — someone who sets traps for animals (usually to obtain their furs)

From this reading But besides their buckskins the trappers now wore thick furs; and the warm blood of a vigorous life in the hills and on the prairies made the experience only one of increased pleasure to the hardy border men.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading Winter was now upon them in the midst of the mountains; the snow filled the defiles, the icy wind moaned in the naked trees and among the crags.

up to a particular time

From this reading He led his party almost north; this course they held until they reached the head waters of the Platte.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Winter was now upon them in the midst of the mountains; the snow filled the defiles, the icy wind moaned in the naked trees and among the crags.

characterized by forceful and energetic action or activity

From this reading But besides their buckskins the trappers now wore thick furs; and the warm blood of a vigorous life in the hills and on the prairies made the experience only one of increased pleasure to the hardy border men.

having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat

From this reading But besides their buckskins the trappers now wore thick furs; and the warm blood of a vigorous life in the hills and on the prairies made the experience only one of increased pleasure to the hardy border men.

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

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

United States actress and singer (1896-1977)

From this reading He led his party almost north; this course they held until they reached the head waters of the Platte.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

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

From this reading At each camp enough “half faced” houses were erected to shelter the men from the wind and snow.

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

From this reading IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the country and its signs as well as any other man of his time.

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

From this reading Winter was now upon them in the midst of the mountains; the snow filled the defiles, the icy wind moaned in the naked trees and among the crags.

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading Winter was now upon them in the midst of the mountains; the snow filled the defiles, the icy wind moaned in the naked trees and among the crags.

inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in

From this reading But besides their buckskins the trappers now wore thick furs; and the warm blood of a vigorous life in the hills and on the prairies made the experience only one of increased pleasure to the hardy border men.