used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading BIT BY BIT The sun was near the meridian when Johnny rode into Gunsight, a town which he took as a matter of course.
equally
From this reading They were all alike, he reflected.
(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 They were all alike, he reflected.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If it were not for the names they scarcely could be told apart--and it would have been just as well to have numbered them.
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading If it were not for the names they scarcely could be told apart--and it would have been just as well to have numbered them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading BIT BY BIT The sun was near the meridian when Johnny rode into Gunsight, a town which he took as a matter of course.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If it were not for the names they scarcely could be told apart--and it would have been just as well to have numbered them.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If it were not for the names they scarcely could be told apart--and it would have been just as well to have numbered them.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading BIT BY BIT The sun was near the meridian when Johnny rode into Gunsight, a town which he took as a matter of course.
possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
From this reading A collection of shacks, with the over-played brave names.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading BIT BY BIT The sun was near the meridian when Johnny rode into Gunsight, a town which he took as a matter of course.
collectionnounUS /kəˈlekʃən/
several things grouped together or considered as a whole
From this reading A collection of shacks, with the over-played brave names.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If it were not for the names they scarcely could be told apart--and it would have been just as well to have numbered them.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading BIT BY BIT The sun was near the meridian when Johnny rode into Gunsight, a town which he took as a matter of course.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If it were not for the names they scarcely could be told apart--and it would have been just as well to have numbered them.
Gunsightnoun
a sight used for aiming a gun
From this reading BIT BY BIT The sun was near the meridian when Johnny rode into Gunsight, a town which he took as a matter of course.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If it were not for the names they scarcely could be told apart--and it would have been just as well to have numbered them.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading BIT BY BIT The sun was near the meridian when Johnny rode into Gunsight, a town which he took as a matter of course.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If it were not for the names they scarcely could be told apart--and it would have been just as well to have numbered them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The shack he was riding for was the "Palace," which only rubbed it in.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading BIT BY BIT The sun was near the meridian when Johnny rode into Gunsight, a town which he took as a matter of course.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If it were not for the names they scarcely could be told apart--and it would have been just as well to have numbered them.
“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading BIT BY BIT The sun was near the meridian when Johnny rode into Gunsight, a town which he took as a matter of course.
and nothing more
From this reading If it were not for the names they scarcely could be told apart--and it would have been just as well to have numbered them.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading BIT BY BIT The sun was near the meridian when Johnny rode into Gunsight, a town which he took as a matter of course.
meridiannounUS /mərˈɪdiən/
the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading BIT BY BIT The sun was near the meridian when Johnny rode into Gunsight, a town which he took as a matter of course.
verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument
From this reading If it were not for the names they scarcely could be told apart--and it would have been just as well to have numbered them.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading BIT BY BIT The sun was near the meridian when Johnny rode into Gunsight, a town which he took as a matter of course.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If it were not for the names they scarcely could be told apart--and it would have been just as well to have numbered them.
numberedverbUS /ˈnʌmbərd/
past form of “number” — add up in number or quantity
From this reading If it were not for the names they scarcely could be told apart--and it would have been just as well to have numbered them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BIT BY BIT The sun was near the meridian when Johnny rode into Gunsight, a town which he took as a matter of course.
and nothing more
From this reading The shack he was riding for was the "Palace," which only rubbed it in.
over-played
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A collection of shacks, with the over-played brave names.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading The shack he was riding for was the "Palace," which only rubbed it in.
(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back
From this reading They were all alike, he reflected.
the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements
From this reading The shack he was riding for was the "Palace," which only rubbed it in.
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading BIT BY BIT The sun was near the meridian when Johnny rode into Gunsight, a town which he took as a matter of course.
rubbedverbUS /rʌbd/
inflected form of “rub” — move over something with pressure
From this reading The shack he was riding for was the "Palace," which only rubbed it in.
only a very short time before
From this reading If it were not for the names they scarcely could be told apart--and it would have been just as well to have numbered them.
shacknounUS /ʃæk/
small crude shelter used as a dwelling
From this reading The shack he was riding for was the "Palace," which only rubbed it in.
shacksnounUS /ʃæks/
plural of “shack” — small crude shelter used as a dwelling
From this reading A collection of shacks, with the over-played brave names.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading BIT BY BIT The sun was near the meridian when Johnny rode into Gunsight, a town which he took as a matter of course.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BIT BY BIT The sun was near the meridian when Johnny rode into Gunsight, a town which he took as a matter of course.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading If it were not for the names they scarcely could be told apart--and it would have been just as well to have numbered them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were all alike, he reflected.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If it were not for the names they scarcely could be told apart--and it would have been just as well to have numbered them.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading If it were not for the names they scarcely could be told apart--and it would have been just as well to have numbered them.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading BIT BY BIT The sun was near the meridian when Johnny rode into Gunsight, a town which he took as a matter of course.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading BIT BY BIT The sun was near the meridian when Johnny rode into Gunsight, a town which he took as a matter of course.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading BIT BY BIT The sun was near the meridian when Johnny rode into Gunsight, a town which he took as a matter of course.
(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 If it were not for the names they scarcely could be told apart--and it would have been just as well to have numbered them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were all alike, he reflected.
at the time that
From this reading BIT BY BIT The sun was near the meridian when Johnny rode into Gunsight, a town which he took as a matter of course.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading BIT BY BIT The sun was near the meridian when Johnny rode into Gunsight, a town which he took as a matter of course.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A collection of shacks, with the over-played brave names.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If it were not for the names they scarcely could be told apart--and it would have been just as well to have numbered them.
