used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Tryin’ to run away from a big party of Injuns, in open country, is dangerous matter—specially if you depend on speed alone.
anew
From this reading “Wall,” said Comstock, again dubious, “it’s doubtful.
(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 I take it this lootenint was ridin’ an’ not fightin’; an’ fust thing he’ll know he’ll be surrounded, with his hosses all tuckered out.”
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Tryin’ to run away from a big party of Injuns, in open country, is dangerous matter—specially if you depend on speed alone.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I take it this lootenint was ridin’ an’ not fightin’; an’ fust thing he’ll know he’ll be surrounded, with his hosses all tuckered out.”
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Tryin’ to run away from a big party of Injuns, in open country, is dangerous matter—specially if you depend on speed alone.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I take it this lootenint was ridin’ an’ not fightin’; an’ fust thing he’ll know he’ll be surrounded, with his hosses all tuckered out.”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The pony tracks extended far on either side of the trail, showing that the Indians had been in large numbers.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Tryin’ to run away from a big party of Injuns, in open country, is dangerous matter—specially if you depend on speed alone.
ComstocknounUS /ˈkɑːmstɑːk/
United States reformer who led moral crusades against art and literature that he considered obscene (1844-1915)
From this reading “Wall,” said Comstock, again dubious, “it’s doubtful.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Tryin’ to run away from a big party of Injuns, in open country, is dangerous matter—specially if you depend on speed alone.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading Tryin’ to run away from a big party of Injuns, in open country, is dangerous matter—specially if you depend on speed alone.
dependverbUS /dɪˈpend/
be contingent upon (something that is elided)
From this reading Tryin’ to run away from a big party of Injuns, in open country, is dangerous matter—specially if you depend on speed alone.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Would they make it, do you think?”
doubtfuladjectiveUS /ˈdaʊtfəl/
open to doubt or suspicion
From this reading “Wall,” said Comstock, again dubious, “it’s doubtful.
dubiousadjectiveUS /ˈduːbiəs/
fraught with uncertainty or doubt
From this reading “Wall,” said Comstock, again dubious, “it’s doubtful.
one or the other of two
From this reading The pony tracks extended far on either side of the trail, showing that the Indians had been in large numbers.
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading The pony tracks extended far on either side of the trail, showing that the Indians had been in large numbers.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The pony tracks extended far on either side of the trail, showing that the Indians had been in large numbers.
fightin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I take it this lootenint was ridin’ an’ not fightin’; an’ fust thing he’ll know he’ll be surrounded, with his hosses all tuckered out.”
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Tryin’ to run away from a big party of Injuns, in open country, is dangerous matter—specially if you depend on speed alone.
fust
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I take it this lootenint was ridin’ an’ not fightin’; an’ fust thing he’ll know he’ll be surrounded, with his hosses all tuckered out.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The pony tracks extended far on either side of the trail, showing that the Indians had been in large numbers.
he'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I take it this lootenint was ridin’ an’ not fightin’; an’ fust thing he’ll know he’ll be surrounded, with his hosses all tuckered out.”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I take it this lootenint was ridin’ an’ not fightin’; an’ fust thing he’ll know he’ll be surrounded, with his hosses all tuckered out.”
hosses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I take it this lootenint was ridin’ an’ not fightin’; an’ fust thing he’ll know he’ll be surrounded, with his hosses all tuckered out.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I take it this lootenint was ridin’ an’ not fightin’; an’ fust thing he’ll know he’ll be surrounded, with his hosses all tuckered out.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Tryin’ to run away from a big party of Injuns, in open country, is dangerous matter—specially if you depend on speed alone.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Tryin’ to run away from a big party of Injuns, in open country, is dangerous matter—specially if you depend on speed alone.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading The pony tracks extended far on either side of the trail, showing that the Indians had been in large numbers.
Injuns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tryin’ to run away from a big party of Injuns, in open country, is dangerous matter—specially if you depend on speed alone.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Tryin’ to run away from a big party of Injuns, in open country, is dangerous matter—specially if you depend on speed alone.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Would they make it, do you think?”
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Wall,” said Comstock, again dubious, “it’s doubtful.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I take it this lootenint was ridin’ an’ not fightin’; an’ fust thing he’ll know he’ll be surrounded, with his hosses all tuckered out.”
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The pony tracks extended far on either side of the trail, showing that the Indians had been in large numbers.
lootenint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I take it this lootenint was ridin’ an’ not fightin’; an’ fust thing he’ll know he’ll be surrounded, with his hosses all tuckered out.”
engage in
From this reading “Would they make it, do you think?”
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Tryin’ to run away from a big party of Injuns, in open country, is dangerous matter—specially if you depend on speed alone.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I take it this lootenint was ridin’ an’ not fightin’; an’ fust thing he’ll know he’ll be surrounded, with his hosses all tuckered out.”
the fourth book of the Old Testament; contains a record of the number of Israelites who followed Moses out of Egypt
From this reading The pony tracks extended far on either side of the trail, showing that the Indians had been in large numbers.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Tryin’ to run away from a big party of Injuns, in open country, is dangerous matter—specially if you depend on speed alone.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Tryin’ to run away from a big party of Injuns, in open country, is dangerous matter—specially if you depend on speed alone.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Tryin’ to run away from a big party of Injuns, in open country, is dangerous matter—specially if you depend on speed alone.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading I take it this lootenint was ridin’ an’ not fightin’; an’ fust thing he’ll know he’ll be surrounded, with his hosses all tuckered out.”
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Tryin’ to run away from a big party of Injuns, in open country, is dangerous matter—specially if you depend on speed alone.
ponynounUS /ˈpoʊniː/
a range horse of the western United States
From this reading The pony tracks extended far on either side of the trail, showing that the Indians had been in large numbers.
ridin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I take it this lootenint was ridin’ an’ not fightin’; an’ fust thing he’ll know he’ll be surrounded, with his hosses all tuckered out.”
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Tryin’ to run away from a big party of Injuns, in open country, is dangerous matter—specially if you depend on speed alone.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Wall,” said Comstock, again dubious, “it’s doubtful.
the display of a motion picture
From this reading The pony tracks extended far on either side of the trail, showing that the Indians had been in large numbers.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The pony tracks extended far on either side of the trail, showing that the Indians had been in large numbers.
speciallyadverbUS /ˈspeʃəli/
in a special manner
From this reading Tryin’ to run away from a big party of Injuns, in open country, is dangerous matter—specially if you depend on speed alone.
move hurridly
From this reading Tryin’ to run away from a big party of Injuns, in open country, is dangerous matter—specially if you depend on speed alone.
confined on all sides
From this reading I take it this lootenint was ridin’ an’ not fightin’; an’ fust thing he’ll know he’ll be surrounded, with his hosses all tuckered out.”
carry out
From this reading I take it this lootenint was ridin’ an’ not fightin’; an’ fust thing he’ll know he’ll be surrounded, with his hosses all tuckered out.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The pony tracks extended far on either side of the trail, showing that the Indians had been in large numbers.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The pony tracks extended far on either side of the trail, showing that the Indians had been in large numbers.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Would they make it, do you think?”
a special situation
From this reading I take it this lootenint was ridin’ an’ not fightin’; an’ fust thing he’ll know he’ll be surrounded, with his hosses all tuckered out.”
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “Would they make it, do you think?”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I take it this lootenint was ridin’ an’ not fightin’; an’ fust thing he’ll know he’ll be surrounded, with his hosses all tuckered out.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Tryin’ to run away from a big party of Injuns, in open country, is dangerous matter—specially if you depend on speed alone.
tracksnounUS /træks/
plural of “track” — a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading The pony tracks extended far on either side of the trail, showing that the Indians had been in large numbers.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading The pony tracks extended far on either side of the trail, showing that the Indians had been in large numbers.
Tryin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tryin’ to run away from a big party of Injuns, in open country, is dangerous matter—specially if you depend on speed alone.
tuckered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I take it this lootenint was ridin’ an’ not fightin’; an’ fust thing he’ll know he’ll be surrounded, with his hosses all tuckered out.”
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading “Wall,” said Comstock, again dubious, “it’s doubtful.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I take it this lootenint was ridin’ an’ not fightin’; an’ fust thing he’ll know he’ll be surrounded, with his hosses all tuckered out.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading I take it this lootenint was ridin’ an’ not fightin’; an’ fust thing he’ll know he’ll be surrounded, with his hosses all tuckered out.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Would they make it, do you think?”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Would they make it, do you think?”
