used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But there was a month's layer of tan on the hunter's handsome, supercilious face.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading DEEP CANYON The hunter was riding leisurely up the steep mountain side above Dry Mesa.
afootadverbUS /əˈfʊt/
on foot; walking
From this reading On such an ascent most city men would have preferred to climb afoot.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading On such an ascent most city men would have preferred to climb afoot.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He balanced himself lightly on his flat English saddle, and permitted the wiry little cow pony to pick the best path over the ledges and up the stiff slopes between the scattered pines.
ascentnounUS /əˈsent/
an upward slope or grade (as in a road)
From this reading On such an ascent most city men would have preferred to climb afoot.
balancedadjectiveUS /ˈbælənst/
being in a state of proper equilibrium
From this reading He balanced himself lightly on his flat English saddle, and permitted the wiry little cow pony to pick the best path over the ledges and up the stiff slopes between the scattered pines.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading He balanced himself lightly on his flat English saddle, and permitted the wiry little cow pony to pick the best path over the ledges and up the stiff slopes between the scattered pines.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading He balanced himself lightly on his flat English saddle, and permitted the wiry little cow pony to pick the best path over the ledges and up the stiff slopes between the scattered pines.
breechesnounUS /ˈbriːtʃɪz/
(used in the plural) trousers ending above the knee
From this reading In keeping with his saddle, the hunter wore English riding breeches and leggins.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there was a month's layer of tan on the hunter's handsome, supercilious face.
CANYONnounUS /ˈkænjən/
a ravine formed by a river in an area with little rainfall
From this reading DEEP CANYON The hunter was riding leisurely up the steep mountain side above Dry Mesa.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading On such an ascent most city men would have preferred to climb afoot.
climbverbUS /klaɪm/
go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading On such an ascent most city men would have preferred to climb afoot.
cownounUS /kaʊ/
female of domestic cattle: "“moo-cow” is a child's term"
From this reading He balanced himself lightly on his flat English saddle, and permitted the wiry little cow pony to pick the best path over the ledges and up the stiff slopes between the scattered pines.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading DEEP CANYON The hunter was riding leisurely up the steep mountain side above Dry Mesa.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading DEEP CANYON The hunter was riding leisurely up the steep mountain side above Dry Mesa.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading He balanced himself lightly on his flat English saddle, and permitted the wiry little cow pony to pick the best path over the ledges and up the stiff slopes between the scattered pines.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading But there was a month's layer of tan on the hunter's handsome, supercilious face.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading He balanced himself lightly on his flat English saddle, and permitted the wiry little cow pony to pick the best path over the ledges and up the stiff slopes between the scattered pines.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading But there was a month's layer of tan on the hunter's handsome, supercilious face.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading On such an ascent most city men would have preferred to climb afoot.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He balanced himself lightly on his flat English saddle, and permitted the wiry little cow pony to pick the best path over the ledges and up the stiff slopes between the scattered pines.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He balanced himself lightly on his flat English saddle, and permitted the wiry little cow pony to pick the best path over the ledges and up the stiff slopes between the scattered pines.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He balanced himself lightly on his flat English saddle, and permitted the wiry little cow pony to pick the best path over the ledges and up the stiff slopes between the scattered pines.
hunternounUS /ˈhʌntər/
someone who hunts game
From this reading DEEP CANYON The hunter was riding leisurely up the steep mountain side above Dry Mesa.
hunter'snounUS /ˈhʌntərz/
possessive form of “hunter” — someone who hunts game
From this reading But there was a month's layer of tan on the hunter's handsome, supercilious face.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In keeping with his saddle, the hunter wore English riding breeches and leggins.
conformity or harmony
From this reading In keeping with his saddle, the hunter wore English riding breeches and leggins.
layernounUS /ˈleɪər/
single thickness of usually some homogeneous substance
From this reading But there was a month's layer of tan on the hunter's handsome, supercilious face.
ledgesnounUS /ˈledʒɪz/
plural of “ledge” — a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water
From this reading He balanced himself lightly on his flat English saddle, and permitted the wiry little cow pony to pick the best path over the ledges and up the stiff slopes between the scattered pines.
leggins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In keeping with his saddle, the hunter wore English riding breeches and leggins.
leisurelyadverbUS /ˈliːzərli/
in an unhurried way or at one's convenience
From this reading DEEP CANYON The hunter was riding leisurely up the steep mountain side above Dry Mesa.
without good reason
From this reading He balanced himself lightly on his flat English saddle, and permitted the wiry little cow pony to pick the best path over the ledges and up the stiff slopes between the scattered pines.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He balanced himself lightly on his flat English saddle, and permitted the wiry little cow pony to pick the best path over the ledges and up the stiff slopes between the scattered pines.
the force of workers available
From this reading On such an ascent most city men would have preferred to climb afoot.
MesanounUS /ˈmeɪsə/
flat tableland with steep edges
From this reading DEEP CANYON The hunter was riding leisurely up the steep mountain side above Dry Mesa.
month'snounUS /mʌnθs/
possessive form of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading But there was a month's layer of tan on the hunter's handsome, supercilious face.
used to form the superlative
From this reading On such an ascent most city men would have preferred to climb afoot.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading DEEP CANYON The hunter was riding leisurely up the steep mountain side above Dry Mesa.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But there was a month's layer of tan on the hunter's handsome, supercilious face.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On such an ascent most city men would have preferred to climb afoot.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He balanced himself lightly on his flat English saddle, and permitted the wiry little cow pony to pick the best path over the ledges and up the stiff slopes between the scattered pines.
a course of conduct
From this reading He balanced himself lightly on his flat English saddle, and permitted the wiry little cow pony to pick the best path over the ledges and up the stiff slopes between the scattered pines.
inflected form of “permit” — consent to, give permission
From this reading He balanced himself lightly on his flat English saddle, and permitted the wiry little cow pony to pick the best path over the ledges and up the stiff slopes between the scattered pines.
select carefully from a group
From this reading He balanced himself lightly on his flat English saddle, and permitted the wiry little cow pony to pick the best path over the ledges and up the stiff slopes between the scattered pines.
pinesnounUS /paɪnz/
plural of “pine” — a coniferous tree
From this reading He balanced himself lightly on his flat English saddle, and permitted the wiry little cow pony to pick the best path over the ledges and up the stiff slopes between the scattered pines.
ponynounUS /ˈpoʊniː/
a range horse of the western United States
From this reading He balanced himself lightly on his flat English saddle, and permitted the wiry little cow pony to pick the best path over the ledges and up the stiff slopes between the scattered pines.
more desirable than another
From this reading On such an ascent most city men would have preferred to climb afoot.
the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements
From this reading DEEP CANYON The hunter was riding leisurely up the steep mountain side above Dry Mesa.
put a saddle on
From this reading He balanced himself lightly on his flat English saddle, and permitted the wiry little cow pony to pick the best path over the ledges and up the stiff slopes between the scattered pines.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading He balanced himself lightly on his flat English saddle, and permitted the wiry little cow pony to pick the best path over the ledges and up the stiff slopes between the scattered pines.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading DEEP CANYON The hunter was riding leisurely up the steep mountain side above Dry Mesa.
slopesnounUS /sloʊps/
plural of “slope” — an elevated geological formation
From this reading He balanced himself lightly on his flat English saddle, and permitted the wiry little cow pony to pick the best path over the ledges and up the stiff slopes between the scattered pines.
steepadjectiveUS /stiːp/
having a sharp inclination
From this reading DEEP CANYON The hunter was riding leisurely up the steep mountain side above Dry Mesa.
not moving or operating freely
From this reading He balanced himself lightly on his flat English saddle, and permitted the wiry little cow pony to pick the best path over the ledges and up the stiff slopes between the scattered pines.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading On such an ascent most city men would have preferred to climb afoot.
superciliousadjectiveUS /ˌsuːpərˈsɪliəs/
having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy
From this reading But there was a month's layer of tan on the hunter's handsome, supercilious face.
tannounUS /tæn/
a browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun
From this reading But there was a month's layer of tan on the hunter's handsome, supercilious face.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DEEP CANYON The hunter was riding leisurely up the steep mountain side above Dry Mesa.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But there was a month's layer of tan on the hunter's handsome, supercilious face.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On such an ascent most city men would have preferred to climb afoot.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading DEEP CANYON The hunter was riding leisurely up the steep mountain side above Dry Mesa.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading DEEP CANYON The hunter was riding leisurely up the steep mountain side above Dry Mesa.
wiryadjectiveUS /ˈwɪri/
lean and sinewy
From this reading He balanced himself lightly on his flat English saddle, and permitted the wiry little cow pony to pick the best path over the ledges and up the stiff slopes between the scattered pines.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In keeping with his saddle, the hunter wore English riding breeches and leggins.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading In keeping with his saddle, the hunter wore English riding breeches and leggins.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading On such an ascent most city men would have preferred to climb afoot.
