used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They shook out their legs as men do after a long turn in the saddle and faced each other in a whispered colloquy.
(of mail) marked with a destination
From this reading "Does this man know you?" muttered the man addressed as Pardaloe, stamping in the soft dust and shifting slightly a gun harness on his breast.
AFTERprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
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 An overcast sky, darkening the night, concealed the alkali crusting the riders and their horses; but the hard breathing of the latter in the darkness told of a pace forced for some hours.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An overcast sky, darkening the night, concealed the alkali crusting the riders and their horses; but the hard breathing of the latter in the darkness told of a pace forced for some hours.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They shook out their legs as men do after a long turn in the saddle and faced each other in a whispered colloquy.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading "Find your feet before you go in, Pardaloe," suggested the heavier of the two men guardedly to the taller one.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading "Does this man know you?" muttered the man addressed as Pardaloe, stamping in the soft dust and shifting slightly a gun harness on his breast.
the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation
From this reading An overcast sky, darkening the night, concealed the alkali crusting the riders and their horses; but the hard breathing of the latter in the darkness told of a pace forced for some hours.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading An overcast sky, darkening the night, concealed the alkali crusting the riders and their horses; but the hard breathing of the latter in the darkness told of a pace forced for some hours.
Calabasas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
circumspectlyadverb
in a cagey manner
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
colloquynounUS /ˈkɑːləkwi/
a conversation especially a formal one
From this reading They shook out their legs as men do after a long turn in the saddle and faced each other in a whispered colloquy.
not accessible to view
From this reading An overcast sky, darkening the night, concealed the alkali crusting the riders and their horses; but the hard breathing of the latter in the darkness told of a pace forced for some hours.
corrals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
crusting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An overcast sky, darkening the night, concealed the alkali crusting the riders and their horses; but the hard breathing of the latter in the darkness told of a pace forced for some hours.
darkeningadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənɪŋ/
becoming dark or darker as from waning light or clouding over
From this reading An overcast sky, darkening the night, concealed the alkali crusting the riders and their horses; but the hard breathing of the latter in the darkness told of a pace forced for some hours.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading An overcast sky, darkening the night, concealed the alkali crusting the riders and their horses; but the hard breathing of the latter in the darkness told of a pace forced for some hours.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
dismounted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading They shook out their legs as men do after a long turn in the saddle and faced each other in a whispered colloquy.
Doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Does this man know you?" muttered the man addressed as Pardaloe, stamping in the soft dust and shifting slightly a gun harness on his breast.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
remove the dust from
From this reading "Does this man know you?" muttered the man addressed as Pardaloe, stamping in the soft dust and shifting slightly a gun harness on his breast.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading They shook out their legs as men do after a long turn in the saddle and faced each other in a whispered colloquy.
having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination
From this reading They shook out their legs as men do after a long turn in the saddle and faced each other in a whispered colloquy.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading "Find your feet before you go in, Pardaloe," suggested the heavier of the two men guardedly to the taller one.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading "Find your feet before you go in, Pardaloe," suggested the heavier of the two men guardedly to the taller one.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading An overcast sky, darkening the night, concealed the alkali crusting the riders and their horses; but the hard breathing of the latter in the darkness told of a pace forced for some hours.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading An overcast sky, darkening the night, concealed the alkali crusting the riders and their horses; but the hard breathing of the latter in the darkness told of a pace forced for some hours.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Find your feet before you go in, Pardaloe," suggested the heavier of the two men guardedly to the taller one.
guardedlyadverbUS /ˈɡɑːrdɪdli/
in a conservative manner
From this reading "Find your feet before you go in, Pardaloe," suggested the heavier of the two men guardedly to the taller one.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading "Does this man know you?" muttered the man addressed as Pardaloe, stamping in the soft dust and shifting slightly a gun harness on his breast.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading An overcast sky, darkening the night, concealed the alkali crusting the riders and their horses; but the hard breathing of the latter in the darkness told of a pace forced for some hours.
harnessverbUS /ˈhɑːrnəs/
put a harness
From this reading "Does this man know you?" muttered the man addressed as Pardaloe, stamping in the soft dust and shifting slightly a gun harness on his breast.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
heavieradjectiveUS /ˈheviər/
comparative of “heavy” — of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading "Find your feet before you go in, Pardaloe," suggested the heavier of the two men guardedly to the taller one.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Does this man know you?" muttered the man addressed as Pardaloe, stamping in the soft dust and shifting slightly a gun harness on his breast.
horsemennounUS /ˈhɔːrsmən/
plural of “horseman” — a man skilled in equitation
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading An overcast sky, darkening the night, concealed the alkali crusting the riders and their horses; but the hard breathing of the latter in the darkness told of a pace forced for some hours.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They shook out their legs as men do after a long turn in the saddle and faced each other in a whispered colloquy.
a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "Does this man know you?" muttered the man addressed as Pardaloe, stamping in the soft dust and shifting slightly a gun harness on his breast.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading An overcast sky, darkening the night, concealed the alkali crusting the riders and their horses; but the hard breathing of the latter in the darkness told of a pace forced for some hours.
staying power
From this reading They shook out their legs as men do after a long turn in the saddle and faced each other in a whispered colloquy.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading They shook out their legs as men do after a long turn in the saddle and faced each other in a whispered colloquy.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "Does this man know you?" muttered the man addressed as Pardaloe, stamping in the soft dust and shifting slightly a gun harness on his breast.
the force of workers available
From this reading They shook out their legs as men do after a long turn in the saddle and faced each other in a whispered colloquy.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading "Does this man know you?" muttered the man addressed as Pardaloe, stamping in the soft dust and shifting slightly a gun harness on his breast.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading An overcast sky, darkening the night, concealed the alkali crusting the riders and their horses; but the hard breathing of the latter in the darkness told of a pace forced for some hours.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Does this man know you?" muttered the man addressed as Pardaloe, stamping in the soft dust and shifting slightly a gun harness on his breast.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Find your feet before you go in, Pardaloe," suggested the heavier of the two men guardedly to the taller one.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading They shook out their legs as men do after a long turn in the saddle and faced each other in a whispered colloquy.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading They shook out their legs as men do after a long turn in the saddle and faced each other in a whispered colloquy.
outbuildings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
overcastnounUS /ˈoʊvərkæst/
the state of the sky when it is covered by clouds
From this reading An overcast sky, darkening the night, concealed the alkali crusting the riders and their horses; but the hard breathing of the latter in the darkness told of a pace forced for some hours.
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading An overcast sky, darkening the night, concealed the alkali crusting the riders and their horses; but the hard breathing of the latter in the darkness told of a pace forced for some hours.
Pardaloe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Find your feet before you go in, Pardaloe," suggested the heavier of the two men guardedly to the taller one.
riddenverbUS /ˈrɪdən/
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
ridersnounUS /ˈraɪdərz/
plural of “rider” — a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)
From this reading An overcast sky, darkening the night, concealed the alkali crusting the riders and their horses; but the hard breathing of the latter in the darkness told of a pace forced for some hours.
put a saddle on
From this reading They shook out their legs as men do after a long turn in the saddle and faced each other in a whispered colloquy.
Identical; not different.
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
shiftingadjectiveUS /ˈʃɪftɪŋ/
continuously varying
From this reading "Does this man know you?" muttered the man addressed as Pardaloe, stamping in the soft dust and shifting slightly a gun harness on his breast.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading They shook out their legs as men do after a long turn in the saddle and faced each other in a whispered colloquy.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading An overcast sky, darkening the night, concealed the alkali crusting the riders and their horses; but the hard breathing of the latter in the darkness told of a pace forced for some hours.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading "Does this man know you?" muttered the man addressed as Pardaloe, stamping in the soft dust and shifting slightly a gun harness on his breast.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading "Does this man know you?" muttered the man addressed as Pardaloe, stamping in the soft dust and shifting slightly a gun harness on his breast.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
stampingverbUS /ˈstæmpɪŋ/
-ing form of “stamp” — walk heavily
From this reading "Does this man know you?" muttered the man addressed as Pardaloe, stamping in the soft dust and shifting slightly a gun harness on his breast.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading "Find your feet before you go in, Pardaloe," suggested the heavier of the two men guardedly to the taller one.
talleradjectiveUS /ˈtɔːlər/
comparative of “tall” — great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading "Find your feet before you go in, Pardaloe," suggested the heavier of the two men guardedly to the taller one.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They shook out their legs as men do after a long turn in the saddle and faced each other in a whispered colloquy.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Does this man know you?" muttered the man addressed as Pardaloe, stamping in the soft dust and shifting slightly a gun harness on his breast.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Find your feet before you go in, Pardaloe," suggested the heavier of the two men guardedly to the taller one.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading An overcast sky, darkening the night, concealed the alkali crusting the riders and their horses; but the hard breathing of the latter in the darkness told of a pace forced for some hours.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading They shook out their legs as men do after a long turn in the saddle and faced each other in a whispered colloquy.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
(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 AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
at the time that
From this reading AFTER THE STORM It was well along toward midnight of the same day when two horsemen, after having ridden circumspectly around the outbuildings and corrals, dismounted from their horses at some little distance from the door of the Calabasas Inn.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading They shook out their legs as men do after a long turn in the saddle and faced each other in a whispered colloquy.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Find your feet before you go in, Pardaloe," suggested the heavier of the two men guardedly to the taller one.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Find your feet before you go in, Pardaloe," suggested the heavier of the two men guardedly to the taller one.
