used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading He urged his pony from crest to crest, carelessly easy in the saddle, alive to his work, and quietly happy in the lone freedom of thought and action.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading He urged his pony from crest to crest, carelessly easy in the saddle, alive to his work, and quietly happy in the lone freedom of thought and action.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
any thing at all
From this reading Only last night he had learned that he was the son of Waring of Sonora; a name to live up to, if Western standards meant anything, and he thought they did.
arroyonounUS /ərˈɔɪoʊ/
a stream or brook
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading He felt a bit proud of himself that morning.
brighteradjectiveUS /ˈbraɪtər/
comparative of “bright” — emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
carelesslyadverbUS /ˈkerləsli/
without care or concern
From this reading He urged his pony from crest to crest, carelessly easy in the saddle, alive to his work, and quietly happy in the lone freedom of thought and action.
clumpsnounUS /klʌmps/
plural of “clump” — a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
crestnounUS /krest/
the top line of a hill, mountain, or wave
From this reading He urged his pony from crest to crest, carelessly easy in the saddle, alive to his work, and quietly happy in the lone freedom of thought and action.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Only last night he had learned that he was the son of Waring of Sonora; a name to live up to, if Western standards meant anything, and he thought they did.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading He urged his pony from crest to crest, carelessly easy in the saddle, alive to his work, and quietly happy in the lone freedom of thought and action.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He felt a bit proud of himself that morning.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading _Lorry_ In the low hills west of Stacey, Lorry was looking for strays.
the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
From this reading He urged his pony from crest to crest, carelessly easy in the saddle, alive to his work, and quietly happy in the lone freedom of thought and action.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He urged his pony from crest to crest, carelessly easy in the saddle, alive to his work, and quietly happy in the lone freedom of thought and action.
glassesnounUS /ˈɡlæsəz/
(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
greasewoodnounUS /ˈɡriːswʊd/
low hardy much-branched spiny shrub common in alkaline soils of western America
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Only last night he had learned that he was the son of Waring of Sonora; a name to live up to, if Western standards meant anything, and he thought they did.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading He urged his pony from crest to crest, carelessly easy in the saddle, alive to his work, and quietly happy in the lone freedom of thought and action.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading _Lorry_ In the low hills west of Stacey, Lorry was looking for strays.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He felt a bit proud of himself that morning.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Only last night he had learned that he was the son of Waring of Sonora; a name to live up to, if Western standards meant anything, and he thought they did.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _Lorry_ In the low hills west of Stacey, Lorry was looking for strays.
infrequentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfriːkwənt/
not frequent; not occurring regularly or at short intervals
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
immediately past
From this reading Only last night he had learned that he was the son of Waring of Sonora; a name to live up to, if Western standards meant anything, and he thought they did.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading Only last night he had learned that he was the son of Waring of Sonora; a name to live up to, if Western standards meant anything, and he thought they did.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading Only last night he had learned that he was the son of Waring of Sonora; a name to live up to, if Western standards meant anything, and he thought they did.
loneadjectiveUS /loʊn/
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading He urged his pony from crest to crest, carelessly easy in the saddle, alive to his work, and quietly happy in the lone freedom of thought and action.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading _Lorry_ In the low hills west of Stacey, Lorry was looking for strays.
LorrynounUS /ˈlɔːri/
a large low horse-drawn wagon without sides
From this reading _Lorry_ In the low hills west of Stacey, Lorry was looking for strays.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading _Lorry_ In the low hills west of Stacey, Lorry was looking for strays.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading Only last night he had learned that he was the son of Waring of Sonora; a name to live up to, if Western standards meant anything, and he thought they did.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading He felt a bit proud of himself that morning.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Only last night he had learned that he was the son of Waring of Sonora; a name to live up to, if Western standards meant anything, and he thought they did.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Only last night he had learned that he was the son of Waring of Sonora; a name to live up to, if Western standards meant anything, and he thought they did.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Lorry_ In the low hills west of Stacey, Lorry was looking for strays.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
and nothing more
From this reading Only last night he had learned that he was the son of Waring of Sonora; a name to live up to, if Western standards meant anything, and he thought they did.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
ponynounUS /ˈpoʊniː/
a range horse of the western United States
From this reading He urged his pony from crest to crest, carelessly easy in the saddle, alive to his work, and quietly happy in the lone freedom of thought and action.
feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading He felt a bit proud of himself that morning.
with low volume
From this reading He urged his pony from crest to crest, carelessly easy in the saddle, alive to his work, and quietly happy in the lone freedom of thought and action.
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
put a saddle on
From this reading He urged his pony from crest to crest, carelessly easy in the saddle, alive to his work, and quietly happy in the lone freedom of thought and action.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
singlingverbUS /ˈsɪŋɡəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “single” — hit a single
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
a male human offspring
From this reading Only last night he had learned that he was the son of Waring of Sonora; a name to live up to, if Western standards meant anything, and he thought they did.
SonoranounUS /səˈnɔːrə/
ground snakes
From this reading Only last night he had learned that he was the son of Waring of Sonora; a name to live up to, if Western standards meant anything, and he thought they did.
Stacey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Lorry_ In the low hills west of Stacey, Lorry was looking for strays.
standardsnounUS /ˈstændərdz/
plural of “standard” — a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated
From this reading Only last night he had learned that he was the son of Waring of Sonora; a name to live up to, if Western standards meant anything, and he thought they did.
straysnounUS /streɪz/
plural of “stray” — an animal that has strayed (especially a domestic animal)
From this reading _Lorry_ In the low hills west of Stacey, Lorry was looking for strays.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Lorry_ In the low hills west of Stacey, Lorry was looking for strays.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Only last night he had learned that he was the son of Waring of Sonora; a name to live up to, if Western standards meant anything, and he thought they did.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He urged his pony from crest to crest, carelessly easy in the saddle, alive to his work, and quietly happy in the lone freedom of thought and action.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He urged his pony from crest to crest, carelessly easy in the saddle, alive to his work, and quietly happy in the lone freedom of thought and action.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Only last night he had learned that he was the son of Waring of Sonora; a name to live up to, if Western standards meant anything, and he thought they did.
past form of “urge” — force or impel in an indicated direction
From this reading He urged his pony from crest to crest, carelessly easy in the saddle, alive to his work, and quietly happy in the lone freedom of thought and action.
WaringverbUS /ˈwerɪŋ/
-ing form of “ware” — spend extravagantly
From this reading Only last night he had learned that he was the son of Waring of Sonora; a name to live up to, if Western standards meant anything, and he thought they did.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Lorry_ In the low hills west of Stacey, Lorry was looking for strays.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading _Lorry_ In the low hills west of Stacey, Lorry was looking for strays.
relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts
From this reading Only last night he had learned that he was the son of Waring of Sonora; a name to live up to, if Western standards meant anything, and he thought they did.
whistlingnounUS /ˈwɪslɪŋ/
the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He urged his pony from crest to crest, carelessly easy in the saddle, alive to his work, and quietly happy in the lone freedom of thought and action.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He worked alone, whistling as he rode, swinging his glasses on this and that arroyo and singling out the infrequent clumps of greasewood for a touch of brighter color in their shadows.
