used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SILVER SKIES The trip to the Ricker ranch was uneventful, the girls maintaining a tired silence.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Bud insisted on remaining at the Ricker ranch to look after the men and prisoners when they came in.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They had passed through an ordeal that would have tried the nerves of strong men.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At the ranch, Mason hastily got the Marshal’s car ready and they started for the ride home.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the ranch, Mason hastily got the Marshal’s car ready and they started for the ride home.
BudnounUS /bʌd/
a partially opened flower
From this reading Bud insisted on remaining at the Ricker ranch to look after the men and prisoners when they came in.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Bud insisted on remaining at the Ricker ranch to look after the men and prisoners when they came in.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading At the ranch, Mason hastily got the Marshal’s car ready and they started for the ride home.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading Mason drove at a moderate speed, and gradually the girls came out of their listless mood.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At the ranch, Mason hastily got the Marshal’s car ready and they started for the ride home.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading SILVER SKIES The trip to the Ricker ranch was uneventful, the girls maintaining a tired silence.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading At the ranch, Mason hastily got the Marshal’s car ready and they started for the ride home.
in a gradual manner
From this reading Mason drove at a moderate speed, and gradually the girls came out of their listless mood.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had passed through an ordeal that would have tried the nerves of strong men.
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading At the ranch, Mason hastily got the Marshal’s car ready and they started for the ride home.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They had passed through an ordeal that would have tried the nerves of strong men.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading At the ranch, Mason hastily got the Marshal’s car ready and they started for the ride home.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Bud insisted on remaining at the Ricker ranch to look after the men and prisoners when they came in.
past form of “insist” — be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge
From this reading Bud insisted on remaining at the Ricker ranch to look after the men and prisoners when they came in.
listlessadjectiveUS /ˈlɪstləs/
lacking zest or vivacity
From this reading Mason drove at a moderate speed, and gradually the girls came out of their listless mood.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Bud insisted on remaining at the Ricker ranch to look after the men and prisoners when they came in.
maintainingverbUS /meɪnˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “maintain” — cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading SILVER SKIES The trip to the Ricker ranch was uneventful, the girls maintaining a tired silence.
Marshal'snounUS /ˈmɑːrʃəlz/
possessive form of “marshal” — a law officer having duties similar to those of a sheriff in carrying out the judgments of a court of law
From this reading At the ranch, Mason hastily got the Marshal’s car ready and they started for the ride home.
MasonnounUS /ˈmeɪsən/
American Revolutionary leader from Virginia whose objections led to the drafting of the Bill of Rights (1725-1792)
From this reading At the ranch, Mason hastily got the Marshal’s car ready and they started for the ride home.
the force of workers available
From this reading They had passed through an ordeal that would have tried the nerves of strong men.
moderateverbUS /ˈmɑːdərət/
preside over
From this reading Mason drove at a moderate speed, and gradually the girls came out of their listless mood.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading Mason drove at a moderate speed, and gradually the girls came out of their listless mood.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading They had passed through an ordeal that would have tried the nerves of strong men.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They had passed through an ordeal that would have tried the nerves of strong men.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Bud insisted on remaining at the Ricker ranch to look after the men and prisoners when they came in.
ordealnounUS /ɔːrˈdiːl/
a severe or trying experience
From this reading They had passed through an ordeal that would have tried the nerves of strong men.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Mason drove at a moderate speed, and gradually the girls came out of their listless mood.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading They had passed through an ordeal that would have tried the nerves of strong men.
plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading Bud insisted on remaining at the Ricker ranch to look after the men and prisoners when they came in.
ranchnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading SILVER SKIES The trip to the Ricker ranch was uneventful, the girls maintaining a tired silence.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading At the ranch, Mason hastily got the Marshal’s car ready and they started for the ride home.
not used up
From this reading Bud insisted on remaining at the Ricker ranch to look after the men and prisoners when they came in.
Ricker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SILVER SKIES The trip to the Ricker ranch was uneventful, the girls maintaining a tired silence.
sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading At the ranch, Mason hastily got the Marshal’s car ready and they started for the ride home.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading SILVER SKIES The trip to the Ricker ranch was uneventful, the girls maintaining a tired silence.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading SILVER SKIES The trip to the Ricker ranch was uneventful, the girls maintaining a tired silence.
SKIESnounUS /skaɪz/
plural of “sky” — the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading SILVER SKIES The trip to the Ricker ranch was uneventful, the girls maintaining a tired silence.
move hurridly
From this reading Mason drove at a moderate speed, and gradually the girls came out of their listless mood.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading At the ranch, Mason hastily got the Marshal’s car ready and they started for the ride home.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading They had passed through an ordeal that would have tried the nerves of strong men.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They had passed through an ordeal that would have tried the nerves of strong men.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SILVER SKIES The trip to the Ricker ranch was uneventful, the girls maintaining a tired silence.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Mason drove at a moderate speed, and gradually the girls came out of their listless mood.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had passed through an ordeal that would have tried the nerves of strong men.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading They had passed through an ordeal that would have tried the nerves of strong men.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading SILVER SKIES The trip to the Ricker ranch was uneventful, the girls maintaining a tired silence.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading SILVER SKIES The trip to the Ricker ranch was uneventful, the girls maintaining a tired silence.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading They had passed through an ordeal that would have tried the nerves of strong men.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading SILVER SKIES The trip to the Ricker ranch was uneventful, the girls maintaining a tired silence.
uneventfuladjectiveUS /ˌʌniˈventfəl/
marked by no noteworthy or significant events
From this reading SILVER SKIES The trip to the Ricker ranch was uneventful, the girls maintaining a tired silence.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SILVER SKIES The trip to the Ricker ranch was uneventful, the girls maintaining a tired silence.
at the time that
From this reading Bud insisted on remaining at the Ricker ranch to look after the men and prisoners when they came in.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They had passed through an ordeal that would have tried the nerves of strong men.
