used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They were suspected and had been for some time.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They were suspected and had been for some time.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
financial assistance in time of need
From this reading Charlie had sketched them for his benefit.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
the act of breaking something
From this reading By midforenoon Rock had the striking contour of the Goosebill breaking the sky line far on his right.
breedverbUS /briːd/
call forth
From this reading They had a few cattle, and their herd seemed to increase more rapidly than cows naturally breed.
plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
Burris
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By midforenoon Rock had the striking contour of the Goosebill breaking the sky line far on his right.
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading They had a few cattle, and their herd seemed to increase more rapidly than cows naturally breed.
Charlie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Charlie had sketched them for his benefit.
contournounUS /ˈkɑːntʊr/
a line drawn on a map connecting points of equal height
From this reading By midforenoon Rock had the striking contour of the Goosebill breaking the sky line far on his right.
cowsnounUS /kaʊz/
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading They had a few cattle, and their herd seemed to increase more rapidly than cows naturally breed.
dweltverbUS /dwelt/
inflected form of “dwell” — think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading By midforenoon Rock had the striking contour of the Goosebill breaking the sky line far on his right.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading They had a few cattle, and their herd seemed to increase more rapidly than cows naturally breed.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Charlie had sketched them for his benefit.
Goosebill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By midforenoon Rock had the striking contour of the Goosebill breaking the sky line far on his right.
grassyadjectiveUS /ˈɡræsi/
abounding in grass
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading By midforenoon Rock had the striking contour of the Goosebill breaking the sky line far on his right.
herdnounUS /hɜːrd/
a group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans
From this reading They had a few cattle, and their herd seemed to increase more rapidly than cows naturally breed.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading By midforenoon Rock had the striking contour of the Goosebill breaking the sky line far on his right.
humpverbUS /hʌmp/
round one's back by bending forward and drawing the shoulders forward
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
increasenounUS /ˌɪnˈkriːs/
a quantity that is added
From this reading They had a few cattle, and their herd seemed to increase more rapidly than cows naturally breed.
joggedverbUS /dʒɑːɡd/
inflected form of “jog” — continue talking or writing in a desultory manner
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading By midforenoon Rock had the striking contour of the Goosebill breaking the sky line far on his right.
midforenoon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By midforenoon Rock had the striking contour of the Goosebill breaking the sky line far on his right.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
MontananounUS /mɑːnˈtænə/
a state in northwestern United States on the Canadian border
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
as might be expected
From this reading They had a few cattle, and their herd seemed to increase more rapidly than cows naturally breed.
not any; not one
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading By midforenoon Rock had the striking contour of the Goosebill breaking the sky line far on his right.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading By midforenoon Rock had the striking contour of the Goosebill breaking the sky line far on his right.
plateaunounUS /plæˈtoʊ/
a relatively flat highland
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
ranchnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
with speed
From this reading They had a few cattle, and their herd seemed to increase more rapidly than cows naturally breed.
rattlingnounUS /ˈrætlɪŋ/
a rapid series of short loud sounds (as might be heard with a stethoscope in some types of respiratory disorders)
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
ravinesnounUS /rəˈviːnz/
plural of “ravine” — a deep narrow steep-sided valley (especially one formed by running water)
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
precisely, exactly
From this reading By midforenoon Rock had the striking contour of the Goosebill breaking the sky line far on his right.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading By midforenoon Rock had the striking contour of the Goosebill breaking the sky line far on his right.
rutsnounUS /rʌts/
plural of “rut” — a groove or furrow (especially one in soft earth caused by wheels)
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading They had a few cattle, and their herd seemed to increase more rapidly than cows naturally breed.
shallowadjectiveUS /ˈʃæloʊ/
lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
sketchedverbUS /sketʃt/
past form of “sketch” — make a sketch of
From this reading Charlie had sketched them for his benefit.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading By midforenoon Rock had the striking contour of the Goosebill breaking the sky line far on his right.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading They were suspected and had been for some time.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading By midforenoon Rock had the striking contour of the Goosebill breaking the sky line far on his right.
believed likely
From this reading They were suspected and had been for some time.
tanglenounUS /ˈtæŋɡəl/
a twisted and tangled mass that is highly interwoven
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
teamnounUS /tiːm/
a cooperative unit (especially in sports)
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading By midforenoon Rock had the striking contour of the Goosebill breaking the sky line far on his right.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They had a few cattle, and their herd seemed to increase more rapidly than cows naturally breed.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Charlie had sketched them for his benefit.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were suspected and had been for some time.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading They were suspected and had been for some time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They had a few cattle, and their herd seemed to increase more rapidly than cows naturally breed.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
unsavoryadjectiveUS /ənˈseɪvəri/
morally offensive
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were suspected and had been for some time.
wheelsnounUS /wiːlz/
plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As the team jogged with rattling wagon wheels on a trail that was no more than two shallow ruts in the grassy plateau, his mind dwelt on the Burris boys--two unsavory brothers, with a ranch in a tangle of ravines behind that strange hump on the flat face of Montana.
