Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

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

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

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 They travelled in silence, the core of an alkali dust cloud that moved with them and lay thick upon them.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading They travelled in silence, the core of an alkali dust cloud that moved with them and lay thick upon them.

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

From this reading They travelled in silence, the core of an alkali dust cloud that moved with them and lay thick upon them.

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

From this reading One of them wore sun goggles and both of them had their lower faces covered by silk bandannas as if to keep out the thick dust their ponies stirred.

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

From this reading One of them wore sun goggles and both of them had their lower faces covered by silk bandannas as if to keep out the thick dust their ponies stirred.

shining intensely

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

the two together, not just one

From this reading One of them wore sun goggles and both of them had their lower faces covered by silk bandannas as if to keep out the thick dust their ponies stirred.

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

From this reading Well down over their eyes were drawn the broad-rimmed hats.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading One of them wore sun goggles and both of them had their lower faces covered by silk bandannas as if to keep out the thick dust their ponies stirred.

plural of “chap” — a boy or man

From this reading For the rest their costumes were the undistinguished chaps, spurs, shirt, neckerchiefs, and gauntlets of the range.

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

make overcast or cloudy

From this reading They travelled in silence, the core of an alkali dust cloud that moved with them and lay thick upon them.

a small group of indispensable persons or things

From this reading They travelled in silence, the core of an alkali dust cloud that moved with them and lay thick upon them.

plural of “costume” — the attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball

From this reading For the rest their costumes were the undistinguished chaps, spurs, shirt, neckerchiefs, and gauntlets of the range.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading One of them wore sun goggles and both of them had their lower faces covered by silk bandannas as if to keep out the thick dust their ponies stirred.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Well down over their eyes were drawn the broad-rimmed hats.

showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering

From this reading Well down over their eyes were drawn the broad-rimmed hats.

remove the dust from

From this reading They travelled in silence, the core of an alkali dust cloud that moved with them and lay thick upon them.

plural of “edge” — the boundary of a surface

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

past form of “emerge” — come out into view, as from concealment

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

opinion or judgment

From this reading Well down over their eyes were drawn the broad-rimmed hats.

plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading One of them wore sun goggles and both of them had their lower faces covered by silk bandannas as if to keep out the thick dust their ponies stirred.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For the rest their costumes were the undistinguished chaps, spurs, shirt, neckerchiefs, and gauntlets of the range.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

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

From this reading For the rest their costumes were the undistinguished chaps, spurs, shirt, neckerchiefs, and gauntlets of the range.

(plural) tight-fitting spectacles worn to protect the eyes

From this reading One of them wore sun goggles and both of them had their lower faces covered by silk bandannas as if to keep out the thick dust their ponies stirred.

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

From this reading One of them wore sun goggles and both of them had their lower faces covered by silk bandannas as if to keep out the thick dust their ponies stirred.

plural of “hat” — headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim

From this reading Well down over their eyes were drawn the broad-rimmed hats.

a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

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

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading One of them wore sun goggles and both of them had their lower faces covered by silk bandannas as if to keep out the thick dust their ponies stirred.

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

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading One of them wore sun goggles and both of them had their lower faces covered by silk bandannas as if to keep out the thick dust their ponies stirred.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading They travelled in silence, the core of an alkali dust cloud that moved with them and lay thick upon them.

move something or somebody to a lower position

From this reading One of them wore sun goggles and both of them had their lower faces covered by silk bandannas as if to keep out the thick dust their ponies stirred.

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

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

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

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion

From this reading They travelled in silence, the core of an alkali dust cloud that moved with them and lay thick upon them.

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

From this reading For the rest their costumes were the undistinguished chaps, spurs, shirt, neckerchiefs, and gauntlets of the range.

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

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One of them wore sun goggles and both of them had their lower faces covered by silk bandannas as if to keep out the thick dust their ponies stirred.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading One of them wore sun goggles and both of them had their lower faces covered by silk bandannas as if to keep out the thick dust their ponies stirred.

above and across; more than

From this reading Well down over their eyes were drawn the broad-rimmed hats.

plural of “pony” — a range horse of the western United States

From this reading One of them wore sun goggles and both of them had their lower faces covered by silk bandannas as if to keep out the thick dust their ponies stirred.

an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"

From this reading For the rest their costumes were the undistinguished chaps, spurs, shirt, neckerchiefs, and gauntlets of the range.

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading For the rest their costumes were the undistinguished chaps, spurs, shirt, neckerchiefs, and gauntlets of the range.

plural of “rider” — a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

past form of “shimmer” — shine with a weak or fitful light

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

a garment worn on the upper half of the body

From this reading For the rest their costumes were the undistinguished chaps, spurs, shirt, neckerchiefs, and gauntlets of the range.

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading They travelled in silence, the core of an alkali dust cloud that moved with them and lay thick upon them.

a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae

From this reading One of them wore sun goggles and both of them had their lower faces covered by silk bandannas as if to keep out the thick dust their ponies stirred.

fall or descend to a lower place or level

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

plural of “spur” — a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something

From this reading For the rest their costumes were the undistinguished chaps, spurs, shirt, neckerchiefs, and gauntlets of the range.

being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion

From this reading One of them wore sun goggles and both of them had their lower faces covered by silk bandannas as if to keep out the thick dust their ponies stirred.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

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

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Well down over their eyes were drawn the broad-rimmed hats.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading They travelled in silence, the core of an alkali dust cloud that moved with them and lay thick upon them.

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

From this reading They travelled in silence, the core of an alkali dust cloud that moved with them and lay thick upon them.

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 They travelled in silence, the core of an alkali dust cloud that moved with them and lay thick upon them.

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

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

familiar with many parts of the world

From this reading They travelled in silence, the core of an alkali dust cloud that moved with them and lay thick upon them.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

not special in any way; lacking distinction

From this reading For the rest their costumes were the undistinguished chaps, spurs, shirt, neckerchiefs, and gauntlets of the range.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading They travelled in silence, the core of an alkali dust cloud that moved with them and lay thick upon them.

clean with some chemical process

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

(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 Well down over their eyes were drawn the broad-rimmed hats.

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

From this reading Well down over their eyes were drawn the broad-rimmed hats.

in or at the place that

From this reading THE HOLD-UP From the wash where the sink of the Mimbres edges close to Noches two riders emerged in mid-afternoon of a day that shimmered under the heat of a blazing sun.

in the company of; together with

From this reading They travelled in silence, the core of an alkali dust cloud that moved with them and lay thick upon them.

inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in

From this reading One of them wore sun goggles and both of them had their lower faces covered by silk bandannas as if to keep out the thick dust their ponies stirred.