used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading CAUGHT RED-HANDED From a cleft in the hills two riders emerged, following a little gulch to the point where it widened into a draw.
alkalinounUS /ˈælkəlaɪ/
any of various water-soluble compounds capable of turning litmus blue and reacting with an acid to form a salt and water
From this reading The alkali dust of Arizona lay thick upon their broad-brimmed Stetsons and every inch of exposed surface, but through the gray coating bloomed the freshness of youth.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The young man was sinewy and hard as nails, the girl supple and wiry, of a slender grace, straight-backed as an Indian in the saddle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The alkali dust of Arizona lay thick upon their broad-brimmed Stetsons and every inch of exposed surface, but through the gray coating bloomed the freshness of youth.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading It rang from their voices, was apparent in the modelling and carriage of their figures.
ArizonanounUS /ˌerɪˈzoʊnə/
a state in southwestern United States; site of the Grand Canyon
From this reading The alkali dust of Arizona lay thick upon their broad-brimmed Stetsons and every inch of exposed surface, but through the gray coating bloomed the freshness of youth.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The young man was sinewy and hard as nails, the girl supple and wiry, of a slender grace, straight-backed as an Indian in the saddle.
bloomedverbUS /bluːmd/
past form of “bloom” — produce or yield flowers
From this reading The alkali dust of Arizona lay thick upon their broad-brimmed Stetsons and every inch of exposed surface, but through the gray coating bloomed the freshness of youth.
broad-brimmedadjective
(of hats) having a broad brim
From this reading The alkali dust of Arizona lay thick upon their broad-brimmed Stetsons and every inch of exposed surface, but through the gray coating bloomed the freshness of youth.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The alkali dust of Arizona lay thick upon their broad-brimmed Stetsons and every inch of exposed surface, but through the gray coating bloomed the freshness of youth.
a railcar where passengers ride
From this reading It rang from their voices, was apparent in the modelling and carriage of their figures.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading CAUGHT RED-HANDED From a cleft in the hills two riders emerged, following a little gulch to the point where it widened into a draw.
cleftnounUS /kleft/
a split or indentation in something (as the palate or chin)
From this reading CAUGHT RED-HANDED From a cleft in the hills two riders emerged, following a little gulch to the point where it widened into a draw.
coatingnounUS /ˈkoʊtɪŋ/
a thin layer covering something
From this reading The alkali dust of Arizona lay thick upon their broad-brimmed Stetsons and every inch of exposed surface, but through the gray coating bloomed the freshness of youth.
dippedadjectiveUS /dɪpt/
having abnormal sagging of the spine (especially in horses)
From this reading Just where the draw dipped down into the grassy park they drew rein an instant.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Just where the draw dipped down into the grassy park they drew rein an instant.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading CAUGHT RED-HANDED From a cleft in the hills two riders emerged, following a little gulch to the point where it widened into a draw.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading Just where the draw dipped down into the grassy park they drew rein an instant.
remove the dust from
From this reading The alkali dust of Arizona lay thick upon their broad-brimmed Stetsons and every inch of exposed surface, but through the gray coating bloomed the freshness of youth.
emergedverbUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒd/
past form of “emerge” — come out into view, as from concealment
From this reading CAUGHT RED-HANDED From a cleft in the hills two riders emerged, following a little gulch to the point where it widened into a draw.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The alkali dust of Arizona lay thick upon their broad-brimmed Stetsons and every inch of exposed surface, but through the gray coating bloomed the freshness of youth.
exposedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspoʊzd/
with no protection or shield
From this reading The alkali dust of Arizona lay thick upon their broad-brimmed Stetsons and every inch of exposed surface, but through the gray coating bloomed the freshness of youth.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading It rang from their voices, was apparent in the modelling and carriage of their figures.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading CAUGHT RED-HANDED From a cleft in the hills two riders emerged, following a little gulch to the point where it widened into a draw.
freshnessnounUS /ˈfreʃnəs/
the property of being pure and fresh (as if newly made); not stale or deteriorated
From this reading The alkali dust of Arizona lay thick upon their broad-brimmed Stetsons and every inch of exposed surface, but through the gray coating bloomed the freshness of youth.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading CAUGHT RED-HANDED From a cleft in the hills two riders emerged, following a little gulch to the point where it widened into a draw.
a young female
From this reading The young man was sinewy and hard as nails, the girl supple and wiry, of a slender grace, straight-backed as an Indian in the saddle.
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading The young man was sinewy and hard as nails, the girl supple and wiry, of a slender grace, straight-backed as an Indian in the saddle.
grassyadjectiveUS /ˈɡræsi/
abounding in grass
From this reading Just where the draw dipped down into the grassy park they drew rein an instant.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading The alkali dust of Arizona lay thick upon their broad-brimmed Stetsons and every inch of exposed surface, but through the gray coating bloomed the freshness of youth.
gulchnounUS /ɡʌltʃ/
a narrow gorge with a stream running through it
From this reading CAUGHT RED-HANDED From a cleft in the hills two riders emerged, following a little gulch to the point where it widened into a draw.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The young man was sinewy and hard as nails, the girl supple and wiry, of a slender grace, straight-backed as an Indian in the saddle.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading CAUGHT RED-HANDED From a cleft in the hills two riders emerged, following a little gulch to the point where it widened into a draw.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading CAUGHT RED-HANDED From a cleft in the hills two riders emerged, following a little gulch to the point where it widened into a draw.
inchnounUS /ɪntʃ/
a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading The alkali dust of Arizona lay thick upon their broad-brimmed Stetsons and every inch of exposed surface, but through the gray coating bloomed the freshness of youth.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading The young man was sinewy and hard as nails, the girl supple and wiry, of a slender grace, straight-backed as an Indian in the saddle.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading Just where the draw dipped down into the grassy park they drew rein an instant.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading CAUGHT RED-HANDED From a cleft in the hills two riders emerged, following a little gulch to the point where it widened into a draw.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading CAUGHT RED-HANDED From a cleft in the hills two riders emerged, following a little gulch to the point where it widened into a draw.
and nothing more
From this reading Just where the draw dipped down into the grassy park they drew rein an instant.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The alkali dust of Arizona lay thick upon their broad-brimmed Stetsons and every inch of exposed surface, but through the gray coating bloomed the freshness of youth.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading CAUGHT RED-HANDED From a cleft in the hills two riders emerged, following a little gulch to the point where it widened into a draw.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The young man was sinewy and hard as nails, the girl supple and wiry, of a slender grace, straight-backed as an Indian in the saddle.
modellingnounUS /ˈmɑːdəlɪŋ/
a preliminary sculpture in wax or clay from which a finished work can be copied
From this reading It rang from their voices, was apparent in the modelling and carriage of their figures.
nailsnounUS /neɪlz/
plural of “nail” — horny plate covering and protecting part of the dorsal surface of the digits
From this reading The young man was sinewy and hard as nails, the girl supple and wiry, of a slender grace, straight-backed as an Indian in the saddle.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The alkali dust of Arizona lay thick upon their broad-brimmed Stetsons and every inch of exposed surface, but through the gray coating bloomed the freshness of youth.
a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property
From this reading Just where the draw dipped down into the grassy park they drew rein an instant.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading CAUGHT RED-HANDED From a cleft in the hills two riders emerged, following a little gulch to the point where it widened into a draw.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading It rang from their voices, was apparent in the modelling and carriage of their figures.
RED-HANDEDadjectiveUS /ˈredˈhændɪd/
in the act of committing a crime or other reprehensible act
From this reading CAUGHT RED-HANDED From a cleft in the hills two riders emerged, following a little gulch to the point where it widened into a draw.
reinverbUS /reɪn/
control and direct with or as if by reins
From this reading Just where the draw dipped down into the grassy park they drew rein an instant.
ridersnounUS /ˈraɪdərz/
plural of “rider” — a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)
From this reading CAUGHT RED-HANDED From a cleft in the hills two riders emerged, following a little gulch to the point where it widened into a draw.
put a saddle on
From this reading The young man was sinewy and hard as nails, the girl supple and wiry, of a slender grace, straight-backed as an Indian in the saddle.
sinewyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪnjuːi/
(of meat) full of sinews; especially impossible to chew
From this reading The young man was sinewy and hard as nails, the girl supple and wiry, of a slender grace, straight-backed as an Indian in the saddle.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading The young man was sinewy and hard as nails, the girl supple and wiry, of a slender grace, straight-backed as an Indian in the saddle.
Stetsons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The alkali dust of Arizona lay thick upon their broad-brimmed Stetsons and every inch of exposed surface, but through the gray coating bloomed the freshness of youth.
straight-backedadjective
having a straight back
From this reading The young man was sinewy and hard as nails, the girl supple and wiry, of a slender grace, straight-backed as an Indian in the saddle.
suppleadjectiveUS /ˈsʌpəl/
gracefully thin and bending and moving with ease
From this reading The young man was sinewy and hard as nails, the girl supple and wiry, of a slender grace, straight-backed as an Indian in the saddle.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading The alkali dust of Arizona lay thick upon their broad-brimmed Stetsons and every inch of exposed surface, but through the gray coating bloomed the freshness of youth.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CAUGHT RED-HANDED From a cleft in the hills two riders emerged, following a little gulch to the point where it widened into a draw.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The alkali dust of Arizona lay thick upon their broad-brimmed Stetsons and every inch of exposed surface, but through the gray coating bloomed the freshness of youth.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Just where the draw dipped down into the grassy park they drew rein an instant.
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 The alkali dust of Arizona lay thick upon their broad-brimmed Stetsons and every inch of exposed surface, but through the gray coating bloomed the freshness of youth.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The alkali dust of Arizona lay thick upon their broad-brimmed Stetsons and every inch of exposed surface, but through the gray coating bloomed the freshness of youth.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading CAUGHT RED-HANDED From a cleft in the hills two riders emerged, following a little gulch to the point where it widened into a draw.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading CAUGHT RED-HANDED From a cleft in the hills two riders emerged, following a little gulch to the point where it widened into a draw.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The alkali dust of Arizona lay thick upon their broad-brimmed Stetsons and every inch of exposed surface, but through the gray coating bloomed the freshness of youth.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading It rang from their voices, was apparent in the modelling and carriage of their figures.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It rang from their voices, was apparent in the modelling and carriage of their figures.
in or at the place that
From this reading CAUGHT RED-HANDED From a cleft in the hills two riders emerged, following a little gulch to the point where it widened into a draw.
widenedverbUS /ˈwaɪdənd/
past form of “widen” — become broader or wider or more extensive
From this reading CAUGHT RED-HANDED From a cleft in the hills two riders emerged, following a little gulch to the point where it widened into a draw.
wiryadjectiveUS /ˈwɪri/
lean and sinewy
From this reading The young man was sinewy and hard as nails, the girl supple and wiry, of a slender grace, straight-backed as an Indian in the saddle.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The young man was sinewy and hard as nails, the girl supple and wiry, of a slender grace, straight-backed as an Indian in the saddle.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading The alkali dust of Arizona lay thick upon their broad-brimmed Stetsons and every inch of exposed surface, but through the gray coating bloomed the freshness of youth.
