Chapter I

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

From this reading There was a smile on his face and his right hand was extended as he neared the two approaching officers.

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

From this reading “Ah--señors!” he exclaimed cordially.

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

From this reading Author of “Not of the Card,” etc. That morning, bright and early, Manuel Perez was at the sheriff’s office.

the event of one object coming closer to another

From this reading There was a smile on his face and his right hand was extended as he neared the two approaching officers.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading He was there so early, in fact, that he found the office locked and he had to wait around outside until he saw Sheriff Joe Cook and “Shorty” McKay, the deputy, coming up the walk.

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

From this reading Then Manuel hobbled forward as quickly as he could manage with his wooden leg.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Author of “Not of the Card,” etc. That morning, bright and early, Manuel Perez was at the sheriff’s office.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading Author of “Not of the Card,” etc. That morning, bright and early, Manuel Perez was at the sheriff’s office.

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading Author of “Not of the Card,” etc. That morning, bright and early, Manuel Perez was at the sheriff’s office.

one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes

From this reading Author of “Not of the Card,” etc. That morning, bright and early, Manuel Perez was at the sheriff’s office.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading He was there so early, in fact, that he found the office locked and he had to wait around outside until he saw Sheriff Joe Cook and “Shorty” McKay, the deputy, coming up the walk.

prepare a hot meal

From this reading He was there so early, in fact, that he found the office locked and he had to wait around outside until he saw Sheriff Joe Cook and “Shorty” McKay, the deputy, coming up the walk.

in a hearty manner

From this reading “Ah--señors!” he exclaimed cordially.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Then Manuel hobbled forward as quickly as he could manage with his wooden leg.

someone authorized to exercise the powers of sheriff in emergencies

From this reading He was there so early, in fact, that he found the office locked and he had to wait around outside until he saw Sheriff Joe Cook and “Shorty” McKay, the deputy, coming up the walk.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading Author of “Not of the Card,” etc. That morning, bright and early, Manuel Perez was at the sheriff’s office.

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

From this reading Author of “Not of the Card,” etc. That morning, bright and early, Manuel Perez was at the sheriff’s office.

past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy

From this reading “Ah--señors!” he exclaimed cordially.

relatively long in duration; tediously protracted

From this reading There was a smile on his face and his right hand was extended as he neared the two approaching officers.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading There was a smile on his face and his right hand was extended as he neared the two approaching officers.

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading He was there so early, in fact, that he found the office locked and he had to wait around outside until he saw Sheriff Joe Cook and “Shorty” McKay, the deputy, coming up the walk.

at or to or toward the front

From this reading Then Manuel hobbled forward as quickly as he could manage with his wooden leg.

set up or found

From this reading He was there so early, in fact, that he found the office locked and he had to wait around outside until he saw Sheriff Joe Cook and “Shorty” McKay, the deputy, coming up the walk.

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

From this reading He was there so early, in fact, that he found the office locked and he had to wait around outside until he saw Sheriff Joe Cook and “Shorty” McKay, the deputy, coming up the walk.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading There was a smile on his face and his right hand was extended as he neared the two approaching officers.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He was there so early, in fact, that he found the office locked and he had to wait around outside until he saw Sheriff Joe Cook and “Shorty” McKay, the deputy, coming up the walk.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Then Manuel hobbled forward as quickly as he could manage with his wooden leg.

past form of “hobble” — walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury

From this reading Then Manuel hobbled forward as quickly as he could manage with his wooden leg.

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

From this reading He was there so early, in fact, that he found the office locked and he had to wait around outside until he saw Sheriff Joe Cook and “Shorty” McKay, the deputy, coming up the walk.

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

From this reading He was there so early, in fact, that he found the office locked and he had to wait around outside until he saw Sheriff Joe Cook and “Shorty” McKay, the deputy, coming up the walk.

a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle

From this reading Then Manuel hobbled forward as quickly as he could manage with his wooden leg.

past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock

From this reading He was there so early, in fact, that he found the office locked and he had to wait around outside until he saw Sheriff Joe Cook and “Shorty” McKay, the deputy, coming up the walk.

be successful; achieve a goal

From this reading Then Manuel hobbled forward as quickly as he could manage with his wooden leg.

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

From this reading Author of “Not of the Card,” etc. That morning, bright and early, Manuel Perez was at the sheriff’s office.

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

From this reading He was there so early, in fact, that he found the office locked and he had to wait around outside until he saw Sheriff Joe Cook and “Shorty” McKay, the deputy, coming up the walk.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading Author of “Not of the Card,” etc. That morning, bright and early, Manuel Perez was at the sheriff’s office.

past form of “near” — move towards

From this reading There was a smile on his face and his right hand was extended as he neared the two approaching officers.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Author of “Not of the Card,” etc. That morning, bright and early, Manuel Perez was at the sheriff’s office.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Author of “Not of the Card,” etc. That morning, bright and early, Manuel Perez was at the sheriff’s office.

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading Author of “Not of the Card,” etc. That morning, bright and early, Manuel Perez was at the sheriff’s office.

plural of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command

From this reading There was a smile on his face and his right hand was extended as he neared the two approaching officers.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading There was a smile on his face and his right hand was extended as he neared the two approaching officers.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading He was there so early, in fact, that he found the office locked and he had to wait around outside until he saw Sheriff Joe Cook and “Shorty” McKay, the deputy, coming up the walk.

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

From this reading Author of “Not of the Card,” etc. That morning, bright and early, Manuel Perez was at the sheriff’s office.

with speed

From this reading Then Manuel hobbled forward as quickly as he could manage with his wooden leg.

precisely, exactly

From this reading There was a smile on his face and his right hand was extended as he neared the two approaching officers.

cut with a saw

From this reading He was there so early, in fact, that he found the office locked and he had to wait around outside until he saw Sheriff Joe Cook and “Shorty” McKay, the deputy, coming up the walk.

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

From this reading “Ah--señors!” he exclaimed cordially.

the principal law-enforcement officer in a county

From this reading He was there so early, in fact, that he found the office locked and he had to wait around outside until he saw Sheriff Joe Cook and “Shorty” McKay, the deputy, coming up the walk.

possessive form of “sheriff” — the principal law-enforcement officer in a county

From this reading Author of “Not of the Card,” etc. That morning, bright and early, Manuel Perez was at the sheriff’s office.

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

From this reading He was there so early, in fact, that he found the office locked and he had to wait around outside until he saw Sheriff Joe Cook and “Shorty” McKay, the deputy, coming up the walk.

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading There was a smile on his face and his right hand was extended as he neared the two approaching officers.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He was there so early, in fact, that he found the office locked and he had to wait around outside until he saw Sheriff Joe Cook and “Shorty” McKay, the deputy, coming up the walk.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Author of “Not of the Card,” etc. That morning, bright and early, Manuel Perez was at the sheriff’s office.

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

From this reading Author of “Not of the Card,” etc. That morning, bright and early, Manuel Perez was at the sheriff’s office.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then Manuel hobbled forward as quickly as he could manage with his wooden leg.

in or at that place or location

From this reading He was there so early, in fact, that he found the office locked and he had to wait around outside until he saw Sheriff Joe Cook and “Shorty” McKay, the deputy, coming up the walk.

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

From this reading He was there so early, in fact, that he found the office locked and he had to wait around outside until he saw Sheriff Joe Cook and “Shorty” McKay, the deputy, coming up the walk.

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

From this reading There was a smile on his face and his right hand was extended as he neared the two approaching officers.

up to a particular time

From this reading He was there so early, in fact, that he found the office locked and he had to wait around outside until he saw Sheriff Joe Cook and “Shorty” McKay, the deputy, coming up the walk.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading He was there so early, in fact, that he found the office locked and he had to wait around outside until he saw Sheriff Joe Cook and “Shorty” McKay, the deputy, coming up the walk.

stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading He was there so early, in fact, that he found the office locked and he had to wait around outside until he saw Sheriff Joe Cook and “Shorty” McKay, the deputy, coming up the walk.

the act of traveling by foot

From this reading He was there so early, in fact, that he found the office locked and he had to wait around outside until he saw Sheriff Joe Cook and “Shorty” McKay, the deputy, coming up the walk.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Author of “Not of the Card,” etc. That morning, bright and early, Manuel Perez was at the sheriff’s office.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Then Manuel hobbled forward as quickly as he could manage with his wooden leg.

made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood

From this reading Then Manuel hobbled forward as quickly as he could manage with his wooden leg.