used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The worst that could possibly happen, he believed, was a slight delay while the curiosity of the horsemen regarding the aëroplane was satisfied.
alightverbUS /əˈlaɪt/
to come to rest, settle
From this reading A refusal to alight would certainly have made the _Comet_ a target for half a dozen guns, and it was a foregone conclusion that not all the bullets would have gone wild.
(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 A refusal to alight would certainly have made the _Comet_ a target for half a dozen guns, and it was a foregone conclusion that not all the bullets would have gone wild.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A refusal to alight would certainly have made the _Comet_ a target for half a dozen guns, and it was a foregone conclusion that not all the bullets would have gone wild.
anticipatingverbUS /ænˈtɪsəpeɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “anticipate” — regard something as probable or likely
From this reading Motor Matt was not anticipating any serious trouble with the cowboys.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Motor Matt was not anticipating any serious trouble with the cowboys.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Armed cattlemen are proverbially reckless.
(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms
From this reading Armed cattlemen are proverbially reckless.
aëroplane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The worst that could possibly happen, he believed, was a slight delay while the curiosity of the horsemen regarding the aëroplane was satisfied.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading The worst that could possibly happen, he believed, was a slight delay while the curiosity of the horsemen regarding the aëroplane was satisfied.
bulletsnounUS /ˈbʊləts/
plural of “bullet” — a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading A refusal to alight would certainly have made the _Comet_ a target for half a dozen guns, and it was a foregone conclusion that not all the bullets would have gone wild.
cattlemennounUS /ˈkætəlmən/
plural of “cattleman” — a man who raises (or tends) cattle
From this reading Armed cattlemen are proverbially reckless.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading A refusal to alight would certainly have made the _Comet_ a target for half a dozen guns, and it was a foregone conclusion that not all the bullets would have gone wild.
CometnounUS /ˈkɑːmət/
(astronomy) a relatively small extraterrestrial body consisting of a frozen mass that travels around the sun in a highly elliptical orbit
From this reading A refusal to alight would certainly have made the _Comet_ a target for half a dozen guns, and it was a foregone conclusion that not all the bullets would have gone wild.
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading A refusal to alight would certainly have made the _Comet_ a target for half a dozen guns, and it was a foregone conclusion that not all the bullets would have gone wild.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The worst that could possibly happen, he believed, was a slight delay while the curiosity of the horsemen regarding the aëroplane was satisfied.
cowboysnounUS /ˈkaʊbɔɪz/
plural of “cowboy” — a hired hand who tends cattle and performs other duties on horseback
From this reading Motor Matt was not anticipating any serious trouble with the cowboys.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading The worst that could possibly happen, he believed, was a slight delay while the curiosity of the horsemen regarding the aëroplane was satisfied.
cause to be slowed down or delayed
From this reading The worst that could possibly happen, he believed, was a slight delay while the curiosity of the horsemen regarding the aëroplane was satisfied.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading A refusal to alight would certainly have made the _Comet_ a target for half a dozen guns, and it was a foregone conclusion that not all the bullets would have gone wild.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A refusal to alight would certainly have made the _Comet_ a target for half a dozen guns, and it was a foregone conclusion that not all the bullets would have gone wild.
foregoneadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrˈɡɔːn/
well in the past; former
From this reading A refusal to alight would certainly have made the _Comet_ a target for half a dozen guns, and it was a foregone conclusion that not all the bullets would have gone wild.
destroyed or killed
From this reading A refusal to alight would certainly have made the _Comet_ a target for half a dozen guns, and it was a foregone conclusion that not all the bullets would have gone wild.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading A refusal to alight would certainly have made the _Comet_ a target for half a dozen guns, and it was a foregone conclusion that not all the bullets would have gone wild.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading A refusal to alight would certainly have made the _Comet_ a target for half a dozen guns, and it was a foregone conclusion that not all the bullets would have gone wild.
come to pass
From this reading The worst that could possibly happen, he believed, was a slight delay while the curiosity of the horsemen regarding the aëroplane was satisfied.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A refusal to alight would certainly have made the _Comet_ a target for half a dozen guns, and it was a foregone conclusion that not all the bullets would have gone wild.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The worst that could possibly happen, he believed, was a slight delay while the curiosity of the horsemen regarding the aëroplane was satisfied.
horsemennounUS /ˈhɔːrsmən/
plural of “horseman” — a man skilled in equitation
From this reading The worst that could possibly happen, he believed, was a slight delay while the curiosity of the horsemen regarding the aëroplane was satisfied.
HUNTERSnounUS /ˈhʌntərz/
plural of “hunter” — someone who hunts game
From this reading THE MAN HUNTERS.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A refusal to alight would certainly have made the _Comet_ a target for half a dozen guns, and it was a foregone conclusion that not all the bullets would have gone wild.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading A refusal to alight would certainly have made the _Comet_ a target for half a dozen guns, and it was a foregone conclusion that not all the bullets would have gone wild.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE MAN HUNTERS.
MattnounUS /mæt/
the property of having little or no contrast; lacking highlights or gloss
From this reading Motor Matt was not anticipating any serious trouble with the cowboys.
MotornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading Motor Matt was not anticipating any serious trouble with the cowboys.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Motor Matt was not anticipating any serious trouble with the cowboys.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The worst that could possibly happen, he believed, was a slight delay while the curiosity of the horsemen regarding the aëroplane was satisfied.
by chance
From this reading The worst that could possibly happen, he believed, was a slight delay while the curiosity of the horsemen regarding the aëroplane was satisfied.
proverbiallyadverb
in the manner of something that has become a byword
From this reading Armed cattlemen are proverbially reckless.
recklessadjectiveUS /ˈrekləs/
marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences
From this reading Armed cattlemen are proverbially reckless.
refusalnounUS /rəˈfjuːzəl/
the act of refusing
From this reading A refusal to alight would certainly have made the _Comet_ a target for half a dozen guns, and it was a foregone conclusion that not all the bullets would have gone wild.
-ing form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading The worst that could possibly happen, he believed, was a slight delay while the curiosity of the horsemen regarding the aëroplane was satisfied.
filled with satisfaction
From this reading The worst that could possibly happen, he believed, was a slight delay while the curiosity of the horsemen regarding the aëroplane was satisfied.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading Motor Matt was not anticipating any serious trouble with the cowboys.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading The worst that could possibly happen, he believed, was a slight delay while the curiosity of the horsemen regarding the aëroplane was satisfied.
targetnounUS /ˈtɑːrɡət/
a reference point to shoot at
From this reading A refusal to alight would certainly have made the _Comet_ a target for half a dozen guns, and it was a foregone conclusion that not all the bullets would have gone wild.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The worst that could possibly happen, he believed, was a slight delay while the curiosity of the horsemen regarding the aëroplane was satisfied.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MAN HUNTERS.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A refusal to alight would certainly have made the _Comet_ a target for half a dozen guns, and it was a foregone conclusion that not all the bullets would have gone wild.
a source of difficulty
From this reading Motor Matt was not anticipating any serious trouble with the cowboys.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Motor Matt was not anticipating any serious trouble with the cowboys.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The worst that could possibly happen, he believed, was a slight delay while the curiosity of the horsemen regarding the aëroplane was satisfied.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading A refusal to alight would certainly have made the _Comet_ a target for half a dozen guns, and it was a foregone conclusion that not all the bullets would have gone wild.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Motor Matt was not anticipating any serious trouble with the cowboys.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading The worst that could possibly happen, he believed, was a slight delay while the curiosity of the horsemen regarding the aëroplane was satisfied.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A refusal to alight would certainly have made the _Comet_ a target for half a dozen guns, and it was a foregone conclusion that not all the bullets would have gone wild.
