Chapter X · Wilderness Reserves; the Yellowstone Park

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

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

the quality of being near to the true value

From this reading As a matter of historical accuracy, however, it is well to bear in mind that many writers, in lamenting this extinction of the game, have from time to time anticipated or overstated the facts.

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

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading The most striking and melancholy feature in connection with American big game is the rapidity with which it has vanished.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Thus as good an author as Colonel Richard Irving Dodge spoke of the buffalo as practically extinct, while the great Northern herd still existed in countless thousands.

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

From this reading The most striking and melancholy feature in connection with American big game is the rapidity with which it has vanished.

expected hopefully

From this reading As a matter of historical accuracy, however, it is well to bear in mind that many writers, in lamenting this extinction of the game, have from time to time anticipated or overstated the facts.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

past form of “arrest” — take into custody

From this reading From that day to this the shrinkage has gone on, only partially checked here and there, and never arrested as a whole.

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

From this reading From that day to this the shrinkage has gone on, only partially checked here and there, and never arrested as a whole.

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

From this reading Thus as good an author as Colonel Richard Irving Dodge spoke of the buffalo as practically extinct, while the great Northern herd still existed in countless thousands.

a remote and undeveloped area

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

have

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The most striking and melancholy feature in connection with American big game is the rapidity with which it has vanished.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

large shaggy-haired brown bison of North American plains

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

patterned with alternating squares of color

From this reading From that day to this the shrinkage has gone on, only partially checked here and there, and never arrested as a whole.

a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general

From this reading Thus as good an author as Colonel Richard Irving Dodge spoke of the buffalo as practically extinct, while the great Northern herd still existed in countless thousands.

a relation between things or events (as in the case of one causing the other or sharing features with it)

From this reading The most striking and melancholy feature in connection with American big game is the rapidity with which it has vanished.

too numerous to be counted

From this reading Thus as good an author as Colonel Richard Irving Dodge spoke of the buffalo as practically extinct, while the great Northern herd still existed in countless thousands.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading From that day to this the shrinkage has gone on, only partially checked here and there, and never arrested as a whole.

distinguished from Bovidae by the male's having solid deciduous antlers

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

make a sudden movement in a new direction so as to avoid

From this reading Thus as good an author as Colonel Richard Irving Dodge spoke of the buffalo as practically extinct, while the great Northern herd still existed in countless thousands.

large northern deer with enormous flattened antlers in the male; called “elk” in Europe and “moose” in North America

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

divisible by two

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

past form of “exist” — have an existence, be extant

From this reading Thus as good an author as Colonel Richard Irving Dodge spoke of the buffalo as practically extinct, while the great Northern herd still existed in countless thousands.

no longer in existence; lost or especially having died out leaving no living representatives

From this reading Thus as good an author as Colonel Richard Irving Dodge spoke of the buffalo as practically extinct, while the great Northern herd still existed in countless thousands.

no longer active; extinguished

From this reading As a matter of historical accuracy, however, it is well to bear in mind that many writers, in lamenting this extinction of the game, have from time to time anticipated or overstated the facts.

plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading As a matter of historical accuracy, however, it is well to bear in mind that many writers, in lamenting this extinction of the game, have from time to time anticipated or overstated the facts.

a prominent attribute or aspect of something

From this reading The most striking and melancholy feature in connection with American big game is the rapidity with which it has vanished.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

plural of “forest” — the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From that day to this the shrinkage has gone on, only partially checked here and there, and never arrested as a whole.

a contest with rules to determine a winner

From this reading The most striking and melancholy feature in connection with American big game is the rapidity with which it has vanished.

destroyed or killed

From this reading From that day to this the shrinkage has gone on, only partially checked here and there, and never arrested as a whole.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading Thus as good an author as Colonel Richard Irving Dodge spoke of the buffalo as practically extinct, while the great Northern herd still existed in countless thousands.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The most striking and melancholy feature in connection with American big game is the rapidity with which it has vanished.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading As a matter of historical accuracy, however, it is well to bear in mind that many writers, in lamenting this extinction of the game, have from time to time anticipated or overstated the facts.

a group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans

From this reading Thus as good an author as Colonel Richard Irving Dodge spoke of the buffalo as practically extinct, while the great Northern herd still existed in countless thousands.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading From that day to this the shrinkage has gone on, only partially checked here and there, and never arrested as a whole.

of or relating to the study of history

From this reading As a matter of historical accuracy, however, it is well to bear in mind that many writers, in lamenting this extinction of the game, have from time to time anticipated or overstated the facts.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading As a matter of historical accuracy, however, it is well to bear in mind that many writers, in lamenting this extinction of the game, have from time to time anticipated or overstated the facts.

plural of “hunter” — someone who hunts game

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

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

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

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

From this reading The most striking and melancholy feature in connection with American big game is the rapidity with which it has vanished.

United States writer remembered for his stories (1783-1859)

From this reading Thus as good an author as Colonel Richard Irving Dodge spoke of the buffalo as practically extinct, while the great Northern herd still existed in countless thousands.

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

From this reading The most striking and melancholy feature in connection with American big game is the rapidity with which it has vanished.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The most striking and melancholy feature in connection with American big game is the rapidity with which it has vanished.

and nothing more

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

a state in east central United States; a border state during the American Civil War; famous for breeding race horses

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

vocally expressing grief or sorrow or resembling such expression

From this reading As a matter of historical accuracy, however, it is well to bear in mind that many writers, in lamenting this extinction of the game, have from time to time anticipated or overstated the facts.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading As a matter of historical accuracy, however, it is well to bear in mind that many writers, in lamenting this extinction of the game, have from time to time anticipated or overstated the facts.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading As a matter of historical accuracy, however, it is well to bear in mind that many writers, in lamenting this extinction of the game, have from time to time anticipated or overstated the facts.

a feeling of thoughtful sadness

From this reading The most striking and melancholy feature in connection with American big game is the rapidity with which it has vanished.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading As a matter of historical accuracy, however, it is well to bear in mind that many writers, in lamenting this extinction of the game, have from time to time anticipated or overstated the facts.

used to form the superlative

From this reading The most striking and melancholy feature in connection with American big game is the rapidity with which it has vanished.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading From that day to this the shrinkage has gone on, only partially checked here and there, and never arrested as a whole.

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading Thus as good an author as Colonel Richard Irving Dodge spoke of the buffalo as practically extinct, while the great Northern herd still existed in countless thousands.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading From that day to this the shrinkage has gone on, only partially checked here and there, and never arrested as a whole.

and nothing more

From this reading From that day to this the shrinkage has gone on, only partially checked here and there, and never arrested as a whole.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading As a matter of historical accuracy, however, it is well to bear in mind that many writers, in lamenting this extinction of the game, have from time to time anticipated or overstated the facts.

a sudden violent spontaneous occurrence (usually of some undesirable condition)

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

represented as greater than is true or reasonable

From this reading As a matter of historical accuracy, however, it is well to bear in mind that many writers, in lamenting this extinction of the game, have from time to time anticipated or overstated the facts.

to some extent; in some degree; not wholly

From this reading From that day to this the shrinkage has gone on, only partially checked here and there, and never arrested as a whole.

past form of “penetrate” — pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

almost; nearly

From this reading Thus as good an author as Colonel Richard Irving Dodge spoke of the buffalo as practically extinct, while the great Northern herd still existed in countless thousands.

a rate that is rapid

From this reading The most striking and melancholy feature in connection with American big game is the rapidity with which it has vanished.

markedly new or introducing radical change

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

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

From this reading Thus as good an author as Colonel Richard Irving Dodge spoke of the buffalo as practically extinct, while the great Northern herd still existed in countless thousands.

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

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

process or result of becoming less or smaller

From this reading From that day to this the shrinkage has gone on, only partially checked here and there, and never arrested as a whole.

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading Thus as good an author as Colonel Richard Irving Dodge spoke of the buffalo as practically extinct, while the great Northern herd still existed in countless thousands.

plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

not in physical motion

From this reading Thus as good an author as Colonel Richard Irving Dodge spoke of the buffalo as practically extinct, while the great Northern herd still existed in countless thousands.

sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect

From this reading The most striking and melancholy feature in connection with American big game is the rapidity with which it has vanished.

past form of “swarm” — be teeming, be abuzz

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

a state in east central United States

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading From that day to this the shrinkage has gone on, only partially checked here and there, and never arrested as a whole.

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

From this reading The most striking and melancholy feature in connection with American big game is the rapidity with which it has vanished.

in or at that place or location

From this reading From that day to this the shrinkage has gone on, only partially checked here and there, and never arrested as a whole.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading From that day to this the shrinkage has gone on, only partially checked here and there, and never arrested as a whole.

plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading Thus as good an author as Colonel Richard Irving Dodge spoke of the buffalo as practically extinct, while the great Northern herd still existed in countless thousands.

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading Thus as good an author as Colonel Richard Irving Dodge spoke of the buffalo as practically extinct, while the great Northern herd still existed in countless thousands.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading As a matter of historical accuracy, however, it is well to bear in mind that many writers, in lamenting this extinction of the game, have from time to time anticipated or overstated the facts.

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

From this reading From that day to this the shrinkage has gone on, only partially checked here and there, and never arrested as a whole.

having passed out of existence

From this reading The most striking and melancholy feature in connection with American big game is the rapidity with which it has vanished.

a person who has never had sex

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

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

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading As a matter of historical accuracy, however, it is well to bear in mind that many writers, in lamenting this extinction of the game, have from time to time anticipated or overstated the facts.

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

at the time that

From this reading When, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the rifle-bearing hunters of the backwoods first penetrated the great forests west of the Alleghanies, deer, elk, black bear, and even buffalo, swarmed in what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the country north of the Ohio was a great and almost virgin hunting-ground.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The most striking and melancholy feature in connection with American big game is the rapidity with which it has vanished.

during the time that

From this reading Thus as good an author as Colonel Richard Irving Dodge spoke of the buffalo as practically extinct, while the great Northern herd still existed in countless thousands.

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading From that day to this the shrinkage has gone on, only partially checked here and there, and never arrested as a whole.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The most striking and melancholy feature in connection with American big game is the rapidity with which it has vanished.

plural of “writer” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading As a matter of historical accuracy, however, it is well to bear in mind that many writers, in lamenting this extinction of the game, have from time to time anticipated or overstated the facts.