Chapter XVIII

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

From this reading "It's a mean night," Joe said as they rode along, "and I wouldn't be surprised if we had trouble with the cattle."

united by being of the same opinion

From this reading "It sure looks as if it were going to storm," Jack agreed; "and nobody can tell just what that will mean."

(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 When they reached the herd, the men whom they were to relieve declared that so far the cattle were all right, but feared that the threatening storm would start them moving.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading "It's a mean night," Joe said as they rode along, "and I wouldn't be surprised if we had trouble with the cattle."

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

From this reading DRIFTING The next night Jack, Vicente and Tulare Joe went out on night herd for the second relief.

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

From this reading "It's a mean night," Joe said as they rode along, "and I wouldn't be surprised if we had trouble with the cattle."

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

From this reading "It's a mean night," Joe said as they rode along, "and I wouldn't be surprised if we had trouble with the cattle."

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

From this reading It was very dark, the sky was pitchy black and the wind blew now and then in swift gusts.

inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard

From this reading It was very dark, the sky was pitchy black and the wind blew now and then in swift gusts.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading When they reached the herd, the men whom they were to relieve declared that so far the cattle were all right, but feared that the threatening storm would start them moving.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "It sure looks as if it were going to storm," Jack agreed; "and nobody can tell just what that will mean."

domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age

From this reading "It's a mean night," Joe said as they rode along, "and I wouldn't be surprised if we had trouble with the cattle."

absence of light or illumination

From this reading It was very dark, the sky was pitchy black and the wind blew now and then in swift gusts.

made known or openly avowed

From this reading When they reached the herd, the men whom they were to relieve declared that so far the cattle were all right, but feared that the threatening storm would start them moving.

aimless wandering from place to place

From this reading DRIFTING The next night Jack, Vicente and Tulare Joe went out on night herd for the second relief.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading When they reached the herd, the men whom they were to relieve declared that so far the cattle were all right, but feared that the threatening storm would start them moving.

past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading When they reached the herd, the men whom they were to relieve declared that so far the cattle were all right, but feared that the threatening storm would start them moving.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading DRIFTING The next night Jack, Vicente and Tulare Joe went out on night herd for the second relief.

the act of departing

From this reading "It sure looks as if it were going to storm," Jack agreed; "and nobody can tell just what that will mean."

plural of “gust” — a strong current of air

From this reading It was very dark, the sky was pitchy black and the wind blew now and then in swift gusts.

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

From this reading "It's a mean night," Joe said as they rode along, "and I wouldn't be surprised if we had trouble with the cattle."

a group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans

From this reading DRIFTING The next night Jack, Vicente and Tulare Joe went out on night herd for the second relief.

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

From this reading "It's a mean night," Joe said as they rode along, "and I wouldn't be surprised if we had trouble with the cattle."

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "It's a mean night," Joe said as they rode along, "and I wouldn't be surprised if we had trouble with the cattle."

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

From this reading It was very dark, the sky was pitchy black and the wind blew now and then in swift gusts.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was very dark, the sky was pitchy black and the wind blew now and then in swift gusts.

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

From this reading "It's a mean night," Joe said as they rode along, "and I wouldn't be surprised if we had trouble with the cattle."

a small worthless amount

From this reading DRIFTING The next night Jack, Vicente and Tulare Joe went out on night herd for the second relief.

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

From this reading DRIFTING The next night Jack, Vicente and Tulare Joe went out on night herd for the second relief.

and nothing more

From this reading "It sure looks as if it were going to storm," Jack agreed; "and nobody can tell just what that will mean."

plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face

From this reading "It sure looks as if it were going to storm," Jack agreed; "and nobody can tell just what that will mean."

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading "It's a mean night," Joe said as they rode along, "and I wouldn't be surprised if we had trouble with the cattle."

the force of workers available

From this reading When they reached the herd, the men whom they were to relieve declared that so far the cattle were all right, but feared that the threatening storm would start them moving.

in motion

From this reading When they reached the herd, the men whom they were to relieve declared that so far the cattle were all right, but feared that the threatening storm would start them moving.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading DRIFTING The next night Jack, Vicente and Tulare Joe went out on night herd for the second relief.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading DRIFTING The next night Jack, Vicente and Tulare Joe went out on night herd for the second relief.

no person; not anyone

From this reading "It sure looks as if it were going to storm," Jack agreed; "and nobody can tell just what that will mean."

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

From this reading It was very dark, the sky was pitchy black and the wind blew now and then in swift gusts.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading DRIFTING The next night Jack, Vicente and Tulare Joe went out on night herd for the second relief.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading DRIFTING The next night Jack, Vicente and Tulare Joe went out on night herd for the second relief.

of the blackest black; similar to the color of jet or coal

From this reading It was very dark, the sky was pitchy black and the wind blew now and then in swift gusts.

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

From this reading When they reached the herd, the men whom they were to relieve declared that so far the cattle were all right, but feared that the threatening storm would start them moving.

the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced

From this reading DRIFTING The next night Jack, Vicente and Tulare Joe went out on night herd for the second relief.

provide physical relief, as from pain

From this reading When they reached the herd, the men whom they were to relieve declared that so far the cattle were all right, but feared that the threatening storm would start them moving.

precisely, exactly

From this reading When they reached the herd, the men whom they were to relieve declared that so far the cattle were all right, but feared that the threatening storm would start them moving.

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

From this reading "It's a mean night," Joe said as they rode along, "and I wouldn't be surprised if we had trouble with the cattle."

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "It's a mean night," Joe said as they rode along, "and I wouldn't be surprised if we had trouble with the cattle."

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading DRIFTING The next night Jack, Vicente and Tulare Joe went out on night herd for the second relief.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading It was very dark, the sky was pitchy black and the wind blew now and then in swift gusts.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading When they reached the herd, the men whom they were to relieve declared that so far the cattle were all right, but feared that the threatening storm would start them moving.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading When they reached the herd, the men whom they were to relieve declared that so far the cattle were all right, but feared that the threatening storm would start them moving.

behave violently, as if in state of a great anger

From this reading "It sure looks as if it were going to storm," Jack agreed; "and nobody can tell just what that will mean."

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading "It sure looks as if it were going to storm," Jack agreed; "and nobody can tell just what that will mean."

taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment

From this reading "It's a mean night," Joe said as they rode along, "and I wouldn't be surprised if we had trouble with the cattle."

moving very fast

From this reading It was very dark, the sky was pitchy black and the wind blew now and then in swift gusts.

express in words

From this reading "It sure looks as if it were going to storm," Jack agreed; "and nobody can tell just what that will mean."

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "It sure looks as if it were going to storm," Jack agreed; "and nobody can tell just what that will mean."

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

From this reading DRIFTING The next night Jack, Vicente and Tulare Joe went out on night herd for the second relief.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading When they reached the herd, the men whom they were to relieve declared that so far the cattle were all right, but feared that the threatening storm would start them moving.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading It was very dark, the sky was pitchy black and the wind blew now and then in swift gusts.

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

From this reading "It's a mean night," Joe said as they rode along, "and I wouldn't be surprised if we had trouble with the cattle."

threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments

From this reading When they reached the herd, the men whom they were to relieve declared that so far the cattle were all right, but feared that the threatening storm would start them moving.

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

From this reading "It sure looks as if it were going to storm," Jack agreed; "and nobody can tell just what that will mean."

a source of difficulty

From this reading "It's a mean night," Joe said as they rode along, "and I wouldn't be surprised if we had trouble with the cattle."

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

From this reading DRIFTING The next night Jack, Vicente and Tulare Joe went out on night herd for the second relief.

precisely as stated

From this reading It was very dark, the sky was pitchy black and the wind blew now and then in swift gusts.

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

From this reading DRIFTING The next night Jack, Vicente and Tulare Joe went out on night herd for the second relief.

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

From this reading It was very dark, the sky was pitchy black and the wind blew now and then in swift gusts.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "It's a mean night," Joe said as they rode along, "and I wouldn't be surprised if we had trouble with the cattle."

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading DRIFTING The next night Jack, Vicente and Tulare Joe went out on night herd for the second relief.

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

From this reading "It sure looks as if it were going to storm," Jack agreed; "and nobody can tell just what that will mean."

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "It sure looks as if it were going to storm," Jack agreed; "and nobody can tell just what that will mean."

at the time that

From this reading When they reached the herd, the men whom they were to relieve declared that so far the cattle were all right, but feared that the threatening storm would start them moving.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading When they reached the herd, the men whom they were to relieve declared that so far the cattle were all right, but feared that the threatening storm would start them moving.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "It sure looks as if it were going to storm," Jack agreed; "and nobody can tell just what that will mean."

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

From this reading It was very dark, the sky was pitchy black and the wind blew now and then in swift gusts.

in the company of; together with

From this reading "It's a mean night," Joe said as they rode along, "and I wouldn't be surprised if we had trouble with the cattle."

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading When they reached the herd, the men whom they were to relieve declared that so far the cattle were all right, but feared that the threatening storm would start them moving.

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

From this reading "It's a mean night," Joe said as they rode along, "and I wouldn't be surprised if we had trouble with the cattle."