used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DESCENT When the party arrived at the ranch, the girl hostess took Mrs. Blake to rest in the clean, simply furnished room provided for the visitors.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Blake, after carrying in their trunk single-handed, went to look around at the ranch buildings in company with Ashton.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Isobel had already introduced them to Mrs. Blake and also to her son.
in addition
From this reading Isobel had already introduced them to Mrs. Blake and also to her son.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On returning to the house, the two found Knowles and Gowan in the parlor with the ladies.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Blake, after carrying in their trunk single-handed, went to look around at the ranch buildings in company with Ashton.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading A DESCENT When the party arrived at the ranch, the girl hostess took Mrs. Blake to rest in the clean, simply furnished room provided for the visitors.
AshtonnounUS /ˈæʃtən/
British choreographer (1906-1988)
From this reading Blake, after carrying in their trunk single-handed, went to look around at the ranch buildings in company with Ashton.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A DESCENT When the party arrived at the ranch, the girl hostess took Mrs. Blake to rest in the clean, simply furnished room provided for the visitors.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading That young man was sprawled, face up, in the cowman's big hands, crowing and valiantly clutching at his bristly mustache.
BlakenounUS /bleɪk/
visionary British poet and painter (1757-1827)
From this reading A DESCENT When the party arrived at the ranch, the girl hostess took Mrs. Blake to rest in the clean, simply furnished room provided for the visitors.
bristlyadjective
very irritable
From this reading That young man was sprawled, face up, in the cowman's big hands, crowing and valiantly clutching at his bristly mustache.
buildingsnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋz/
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading Blake, after carrying in their trunk single-handed, went to look around at the ranch buildings in company with Ashton.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Blake, after carrying in their trunk single-handed, went to look around at the ranch buildings in company with Ashton.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading A DESCENT When the party arrived at the ranch, the girl hostess took Mrs. Blake to rest in the clean, simply furnished room provided for the visitors.
clutchingverbUS /ˈklʌtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading That young man was sprawled, face up, in the cowman's big hands, crowing and valiantly clutching at his bristly mustache.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading Blake, after carrying in their trunk single-handed, went to look around at the ranch buildings in company with Ashton.
cowman's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That young man was sprawled, face up, in the cowman's big hands, crowing and valiantly clutching at his bristly mustache.
crowingnounUS /ˈkroʊɪŋ/
an instance of boastful talk
From this reading That young man was sprawled, face up, in the cowman's big hands, crowing and valiantly clutching at his bristly mustache.
DESCENTnounUS /dɪˈsent/
An action of moving downward, dropping, or falling into a deeper place.
From this reading A DESCENT When the party arrived at the ranch, the girl hostess took Mrs. Blake to rest in the clean, simply furnished room provided for the visitors.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading That young man was sprawled, face up, in the cowman's big hands, crowing and valiantly clutching at his bristly mustache.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A DESCENT When the party arrived at the ranch, the girl hostess took Mrs. Blake to rest in the clean, simply furnished room provided for the visitors.
set up or found
From this reading On returning to the house, the two found Knowles and Gowan in the parlor with the ladies.
provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose (as furniture or equipment or authority)
From this reading A DESCENT When the party arrived at the ranch, the girl hostess took Mrs. Blake to rest in the clean, simply furnished room provided for the visitors.
a young female
From this reading A DESCENT When the party arrived at the ranch, the girl hostess took Mrs. Blake to rest in the clean, simply furnished room provided for the visitors.
Gowan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On returning to the house, the two found Knowles and Gowan in the parlor with the ladies.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Isobel had already introduced them to Mrs. Blake and also to her son.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading That young man was sprawled, face up, in the cowman's big hands, crowing and valiantly clutching at his bristly mustache.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Isobel had already introduced them to Mrs. Blake and also to her son.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading That young man was sprawled, face up, in the cowman's big hands, crowing and valiantly clutching at his bristly mustache.
hostessnounUS /ˈhoʊstəs/
a woman host
From this reading A DESCENT When the party arrived at the ranch, the girl hostess took Mrs. Blake to rest in the clean, simply furnished room provided for the visitors.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading On returning to the house, the two found Knowles and Gowan in the parlor with the ladies.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A DESCENT When the party arrived at the ranch, the girl hostess took Mrs. Blake to rest in the clean, simply furnished room provided for the visitors.
past form of “introduce” — cause to come to know personally
From this reading Isobel had already introduced them to Mrs. Blake and also to her son.
Isobel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Isobel had already introduced them to Mrs. Blake and also to her son.
Knowles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On returning to the house, the two found Knowles and Gowan in the parlor with the ladies.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading On returning to the house, the two found Knowles and Gowan in the parlor with the ladies.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Blake, after carrying in their trunk single-handed, went to look around at the ranch buildings in company with Ashton.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading That young man was sprawled, face up, in the cowman's big hands, crowing and valiantly clutching at his bristly mustache.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading A DESCENT When the party arrived at the ranch, the girl hostess took Mrs. Blake to rest in the clean, simply furnished room provided for the visitors.
mustachenounUS /ˈmʌstæʃ/
an unshaved growth of hair on the upper lip
From this reading That young man was sprawled, face up, in the cowman's big hands, crowing and valiantly clutching at his bristly mustache.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On returning to the house, the two found Knowles and Gowan in the parlor with the ladies.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading On returning to the house, the two found Knowles and Gowan in the parlor with the ladies.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading A DESCENT When the party arrived at the ranch, the girl hostess took Mrs. Blake to rest in the clean, simply furnished room provided for the visitors.
past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading A DESCENT When the party arrived at the ranch, the girl hostess took Mrs. Blake to rest in the clean, simply furnished room provided for the visitors.
ranchnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading A DESCENT When the party arrived at the ranch, the girl hostess took Mrs. Blake to rest in the clean, simply furnished room provided for the visitors.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading A DESCENT When the party arrived at the ranch, the girl hostess took Mrs. Blake to rest in the clean, simply furnished room provided for the visitors.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading On returning to the house, the two found Knowles and Gowan in the parlor with the ladies.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A DESCENT When the party arrived at the ranch, the girl hostess took Mrs. Blake to rest in the clean, simply furnished room provided for the visitors.
and nothing more
From this reading A DESCENT When the party arrived at the ranch, the girl hostess took Mrs. Blake to rest in the clean, simply furnished room provided for the visitors.
single-handedadjectiveUS /ˈsɪŋɡəlˈhændɪd/
unsupported by other people
From this reading Blake, after carrying in their trunk single-handed, went to look around at the ranch buildings in company with Ashton.
a male human offspring
From this reading Isobel had already introduced them to Mrs. Blake and also to her son.
sprawledverbUS /sprɔːld/
past form of “sprawl” — sit or lie with one's limbs spread out
From this reading That young man was sprawled, face up, in the cowman's big hands, crowing and valiantly clutching at his bristly mustache.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That young man was sprawled, face up, in the cowman's big hands, crowing and valiantly clutching at his bristly mustache.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A DESCENT When the party arrived at the ranch, the girl hostess took Mrs. Blake to rest in the clean, simply furnished room provided for the visitors.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Blake, after carrying in their trunk single-handed, went to look around at the ranch buildings in company with Ashton.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Isobel had already introduced them to Mrs. Blake and also to her son.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A DESCENT When the party arrived at the ranch, the girl hostess took Mrs. Blake to rest in the clean, simply furnished room provided for the visitors.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading A DESCENT When the party arrived at the ranch, the girl hostess took Mrs. Blake to rest in the clean, simply furnished room provided for the visitors.
the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber
From this reading Blake, after carrying in their trunk single-handed, went to look around at the ranch buildings in company with Ashton.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading On returning to the house, the two found Knowles and Gowan in the parlor with the ladies.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading That young man was sprawled, face up, in the cowman's big hands, crowing and valiantly clutching at his bristly mustache.
valiantlyadverbUS /ˈvæljəntli/
with valor; in a valiant manner
From this reading That young man was sprawled, face up, in the cowman's big hands, crowing and valiantly clutching at his bristly mustache.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading A DESCENT When the party arrived at the ranch, the girl hostess took Mrs. Blake to rest in the clean, simply furnished room provided for the visitors.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That young man was sprawled, face up, in the cowman's big hands, crowing and valiantly clutching at his bristly mustache.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Blake, after carrying in their trunk single-handed, went to look around at the ranch buildings in company with Ashton.
at the time that
From this reading A DESCENT When the party arrived at the ranch, the girl hostess took Mrs. Blake to rest in the clean, simply furnished room provided for the visitors.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Blake, after carrying in their trunk single-handed, went to look around at the ranch buildings in company with Ashton.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading That young man was sprawled, face up, in the cowman's big hands, crowing and valiantly clutching at his bristly mustache.
