used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
adobenounUS /əˈdoʊbi/
the clay from which adobe bricks are made
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Over this country the buffalo-hunter had come and gone; the cattleman was coming and intended to stay.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading TRAPPED The territory which Captain Ellison had to cover to find the Dinsmore gang was as large as Maine.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading If you draw a line due east from Tascosa, it will pass very close to Mobeetie, a hundred miles away.
buffalo-hunter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over this country the buffalo-hunter had come and gone; the cattleman was coming and intended to stay.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading TRAPPED The territory which Captain Ellison had to cover to find the Dinsmore gang was as large as Maine.
cattlemannoun
a man who raises (or tends) cattle
From this reading Over this country the buffalo-hunter had come and gone; the cattleman was coming and intended to stay.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading If you draw a line due east from Tascosa, it will pass very close to Mobeetie, a hundred miles away.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Over this country the buffalo-hunter had come and gone; the cattleman was coming and intended to stay.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Over this country the buffalo-hunter had come and gone; the cattleman was coming and intended to stay.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Over this country the buffalo-hunter had come and gone; the cattleman was coming and intended to stay.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading TRAPPED The territory which Captain Ellison had to cover to find the Dinsmore gang was as large as Maine.
creeksnounUS /kriːks/
plural of “creek” — a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading There were in those days three towns in the Panhandle.
Dinsmore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TRAPPED The territory which Captain Ellison had to cover to find the Dinsmore gang was as large as Maine.
dottedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːtəd/
having a pattern of dots
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading If you draw a line due east from Tascosa, it will pass very close to Mobeetie, a hundred miles away.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading If you draw a line due east from Tascosa, it will pass very close to Mobeetie, a hundred miles away.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading If you draw a line due east from Tascosa, it will pass very close to Mobeetie, a hundred miles away.
EllisonnounUS /ˈelɪsən/
United States novelist who wrote about a young Black man and his struggles in American society (1914-1994)
From this reading TRAPPED The territory which Captain Ellison had to cover to find the Dinsmore gang was as large as Maine.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading TRAPPED The territory which Captain Ellison had to cover to find the Dinsmore gang was as large as Maine.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading If you draw a line due east from Tascosa, it will pass very close to Mobeetie, a hundred miles away.
gangnounUS /ɡæŋ/
an association of criminals
From this reading TRAPPED The territory which Captain Ellison had to cover to find the Dinsmore gang was as large as Maine.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Over this country the buffalo-hunter had come and gone; the cattleman was coming and intended to stay.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading TRAPPED The territory which Captain Ellison had to cover to find the Dinsmore gang was as large as Maine.
hardyadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdi/
having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
ten 10s
From this reading If you draw a line due east from Tascosa, it will pass very close to Mobeetie, a hundred miles away.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If you draw a line due east from Tascosa, it will pass very close to Mobeetie, a hundred miles away.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading Over this country the buffalo-hunter had come and gone; the cattleman was coming and intended to stay.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading TRAPPED The territory which Captain Ellison had to cover to find the Dinsmore gang was as large as Maine.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading If you draw a line due east from Tascosa, it will pass very close to Mobeetie, a hundred miles away.
locatedadjectiveUS /ˈloʊkeɪtəd/
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
MainenounUS /meɪn/
a state in New England
From this reading TRAPPED The territory which Captain Ellison had to cover to find the Dinsmore gang was as large as Maine.
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading If you draw a line due east from Tascosa, it will pass very close to Mobeetie, a hundred miles away.
Mobeetie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you draw a line due east from Tascosa, it will pass very close to Mobeetie, a hundred miles away.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
OverprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Over this country the buffalo-hunter had come and gone; the cattleman was coming and intended to stay.
PanhandlenounUS /ˈpænhændəl/
a relatively narrow strip of land projecting from some larger area
From this reading There were in those days three towns in the Panhandle.
go across or through
From this reading If you draw a line due east from Tascosa, it will pass very close to Mobeetie, a hundred miles away.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
prairiesnounUS /ˈpreɪriz/
plural of “prairie” — a treeless grassy plain
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
ranchersnounUS /ˈræntʃərz/
plural of “rancher” — a person who owns or operates a ranch
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
settlementsnounUS /ˈsetəlmənts/
plural of “settlement” — a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
sodnounUS /sɑːd/
surface layer of ground containing a mat of grass and grass roots
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Over this country the buffalo-hunter had come and gone; the cattleman was coming and intended to stay.
stretchesnounUS /ˈstretʃəz/
plural of “stretch” — a large and unbroken expanse or distance
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
Tascosa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you draw a line due east from Tascosa, it will pass very close to Mobeetie, a hundred miles away.
territorynounUS /ˈterɪtɔːri/
a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
From this reading TRAPPED The territory which Captain Ellison had to cover to find the Dinsmore gang was as large as Maine.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TRAPPED The territory which Captain Ellison had to cover to find the Dinsmore gang was as large as Maine.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Over this country the buffalo-hunter had come and gone; the cattleman was coming and intended to stay.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading There were in those days three towns in the Panhandle.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading There were in those days three towns in the Panhandle.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading TRAPPED The territory which Captain Ellison had to cover to find the Dinsmore gang was as large as Maine.
townsnounUS /taʊnz/
plural of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading There were in those days three towns in the Panhandle.
TRAPPEDadjectiveUS /træpt/
forced to turn and face attackers
From this reading TRAPPED The territory which Captain Ellison had to cover to find the Dinsmore gang was as large as Maine.
uninhabitedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnɪnˈhæbətɪd/
not having inhabitants; not lived in
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
precisely as stated
From this reading If you draw a line due east from Tascosa, it will pass very close to Mobeetie, a hundred miles away.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading TRAPPED The territory which Captain Ellison had to cover to find the Dinsmore gang was as large as Maine.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
in or at the place that
From this reading Large stretches of it were entirely uninhabited; here and there sod or adobe houses marked where hardy ranchers had located on the creeks; and in a few places small settlements dotted the vast prairies.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading TRAPPED The territory which Captain Ellison had to cover to find the Dinsmore gang was as large as Maine.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading If you draw a line due east from Tascosa, it will pass very close to Mobeetie, a hundred miles away.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading If you draw a line due east from Tascosa, it will pass very close to Mobeetie, a hundred miles away.
