used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On an afternoon in early spring a man lounged against the wall of the station waiting for the express from the east.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading On an afternoon in early spring a man lounged against the wall of the station waiting for the express from the east.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading On an afternoon in early spring a man lounged against the wall of the station waiting for the express from the east.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading On an afternoon in early spring a man lounged against the wall of the station waiting for the express from the east.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Slender of waist and hip, stalwart of shoulder, some seventy-two inches of sinewy height, he was the figure of the typical cattleman.
austereadjectiveUS /ɔːˈstɪr/
severely simple
From this reading His eyes were deep-set and far-seeing; his lean, brown face, roughened by outdoor life, was austere and resolute in expression.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading The train had barely stopped when a boyish-looking, lithe-limbed youth leaped from the platform.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The blue serge suit and checked cap he wore did not disguise the fact that his working clothes--his field uniform--were those of a cow-puncher.
boyish-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The train had barely stopped when a boyish-looking, lithe-limbed youth leaped from the platform.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading His eyes were deep-set and far-seeing; his lean, brown face, roughened by outdoor life, was austere and resolute in expression.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His eyes were deep-set and far-seeing; his lean, brown face, roughened by outdoor life, was austere and resolute in expression.
a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading The blue serge suit and checked cap he wore did not disguise the fact that his working clothes--his field uniform--were those of a cow-puncher.
cattlemannoun
a man who raises (or tends) cattle
From this reading Slender of waist and hip, stalwart of shoulder, some seventy-two inches of sinewy height, he was the figure of the typical cattleman.
checkedadjectiveUS /tʃekt/
patterned with alternating squares of color
From this reading The blue serge suit and checked cap he wore did not disguise the fact that his working clothes--his field uniform--were those of a cow-puncher.
clothing in general
From this reading The blue serge suit and checked cap he wore did not disguise the fact that his working clothes--his field uniform--were those of a cow-puncher.
cow-puncher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The blue serge suit and checked cap he wore did not disguise the fact that his working clothes--his field uniform--were those of a cow-puncher.
deep-setadjective
having a sunken area
From this reading His eyes were deep-set and far-seeing; his lean, brown face, roughened by outdoor life, was austere and resolute in expression.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The blue serge suit and checked cap he wore did not disguise the fact that his working clothes--his field uniform--were those of a cow-puncher.
disguisenounUS /dɪsˈɡaɪz/
A means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity.
From this reading The blue serge suit and checked cap he wore did not disguise the fact that his working clothes--his field uniform--were those of a cow-puncher.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading On an afternoon in early spring a man lounged against the wall of the station waiting for the express from the east.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading On an afternoon in early spring a man lounged against the wall of the station waiting for the express from the east.
give expression to
From this reading On an afternoon in early spring a man lounged against the wall of the station waiting for the express from the east.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading His eyes were deep-set and far-seeing; his lean, brown face, roughened by outdoor life, was austere and resolute in expression.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His eyes were deep-set and far-seeing; his lean, brown face, roughened by outdoor life, was austere and resolute in expression.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His eyes were deep-set and far-seeing; his lean, brown face, roughened by outdoor life, was austere and resolute in expression.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading The blue serge suit and checked cap he wore did not disguise the fact that his working clothes--his field uniform--were those of a cow-puncher.
far-seeing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes were deep-set and far-seeing; his lean, brown face, roughened by outdoor life, was austere and resolute in expression.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading The blue serge suit and checked cap he wore did not disguise the fact that his working clothes--his field uniform--were those of a cow-puncher.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Slender of waist and hip, stalwart of shoulder, some seventy-two inches of sinewy height, he was the figure of the typical cattleman.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading On an afternoon in early spring a man lounged against the wall of the station waiting for the express from the east.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading On an afternoon in early spring a man lounged against the wall of the station waiting for the express from the east.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The train had barely stopped when a boyish-looking, lithe-limbed youth leaped from the platform.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Slender of waist and hip, stalwart of shoulder, some seventy-two inches of sinewy height, he was the figure of the typical cattleman.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading Slender of waist and hip, stalwart of shoulder, some seventy-two inches of sinewy height, he was the figure of the typical cattleman.
hipnounUS /hɪp/
either side of the body below the waist and above the thigh
From this reading Slender of waist and hip, stalwart of shoulder, some seventy-two inches of sinewy height, he was the figure of the typical cattleman.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His eyes were deep-set and far-seeing; his lean, brown face, roughened by outdoor life, was austere and resolute in expression.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On an afternoon in early spring a man lounged against the wall of the station waiting for the express from the east.
plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading Slender of waist and hip, stalwart of shoulder, some seventy-two inches of sinewy height, he was the figure of the typical cattleman.
leanverbUS /liːn/
to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading His eyes were deep-set and far-seeing; his lean, brown face, roughened by outdoor life, was austere and resolute in expression.
past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading The train had barely stopped when a boyish-looking, lithe-limbed youth leaped from the platform.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading His eyes were deep-set and far-seeing; his lean, brown face, roughened by outdoor life, was austere and resolute in expression.
lithe-limbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The train had barely stopped when a boyish-looking, lithe-limbed youth leaped from the platform.
lounged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On an afternoon in early spring a man lounged against the wall of the station waiting for the express from the east.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading On an afternoon in early spring a man lounged against the wall of the station waiting for the express from the east.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The blue serge suit and checked cap he wore did not disguise the fact that his working clothes--his field uniform--were those of a cow-puncher.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On an afternoon in early spring a man lounged against the wall of the station waiting for the express from the east.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On an afternoon in early spring a man lounged against the wall of the station waiting for the express from the east.
outdooradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtdɔːr/
located, suited for, or taking place in the open air
From this reading His eyes were deep-set and far-seeing; his lean, brown face, roughened by outdoor life, was austere and resolute in expression.
a raised horizontal surface
From this reading The train had barely stopped when a boyish-looking, lithe-limbed youth leaped from the platform.
resoluteadjectiveUS /ˈrezəluːt/
firm in purpose or belief; characterized by firmness and determination
From this reading His eyes were deep-set and far-seeing; his lean, brown face, roughened by outdoor life, was austere and resolute in expression.
roughenedadjective
used of skin roughened as a result of cold or exposure
From this reading His eyes were deep-set and far-seeing; his lean, brown face, roughened by outdoor life, was austere and resolute in expression.
sergenounUS /sɜːrdʒ/
a twilled woolen fabric
From this reading The blue serge suit and checked cap he wore did not disguise the fact that his working clothes--his field uniform--were those of a cow-puncher.
seventy-twoadjective
being two more than seventy
From this reading Slender of waist and hip, stalwart of shoulder, some seventy-two inches of sinewy height, he was the figure of the typical cattleman.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading Slender of waist and hip, stalwart of shoulder, some seventy-two inches of sinewy height, he was the figure of the typical cattleman.
sinewyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪnjuːi/
(of meat) full of sinews; especially impossible to chew
From this reading Slender of waist and hip, stalwart of shoulder, some seventy-two inches of sinewy height, he was the figure of the typical cattleman.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading Slender of waist and hip, stalwart of shoulder, some seventy-two inches of sinewy height, he was the figure of the typical cattleman.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Slender of waist and hip, stalwart of shoulder, some seventy-two inches of sinewy height, he was the figure of the typical cattleman.
the season of growth
From this reading On an afternoon in early spring a man lounged against the wall of the station waiting for the express from the east.
stalwartadjectiveUS /ˈstɔːlwərt/
having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
From this reading Slender of waist and hip, stalwart of shoulder, some seventy-two inches of sinewy height, he was the figure of the typical cattleman.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading On an afternoon in early spring a man lounged against the wall of the station waiting for the express from the east.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading The train had barely stopped when a boyish-looking, lithe-limbed youth leaped from the platform.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading The blue serge suit and checked cap he wore did not disguise the fact that his working clothes--his field uniform--were those of a cow-puncher.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The blue serge suit and checked cap he wore did not disguise the fact that his working clothes--his field uniform--were those of a cow-puncher.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On an afternoon in early spring a man lounged against the wall of the station waiting for the express from the east.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The blue serge suit and checked cap he wore did not disguise the fact that his working clothes--his field uniform--were those of a cow-puncher.
create by training and teaching
From this reading The train had barely stopped when a boyish-looking, lithe-limbed youth leaped from the platform.
typicaladjectiveUS /ˈtɪpəkəl/
exhibiting the qualities or characteristics that identify a group or kind or category
From this reading Slender of waist and hip, stalwart of shoulder, some seventy-two inches of sinewy height, he was the figure of the typical cattleman.
always the same; showing a single form or character in all occurrences
From this reading The blue serge suit and checked cap he wore did not disguise the fact that his working clothes--his field uniform--were those of a cow-puncher.
the narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips
From this reading Slender of waist and hip, stalwart of shoulder, some seventy-two inches of sinewy height, he was the figure of the typical cattleman.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading On an afternoon in early spring a man lounged against the wall of the station waiting for the express from the east.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading On an afternoon in early spring a man lounged against the wall of the station waiting for the express from the east.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Slender of waist and hip, stalwart of shoulder, some seventy-two inches of sinewy height, he was the figure of the typical cattleman.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His eyes were deep-set and far-seeing; his lean, brown face, roughened by outdoor life, was austere and resolute in expression.
at the time that
From this reading The train had barely stopped when a boyish-looking, lithe-limbed youth leaped from the platform.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading The blue serge suit and checked cap he wore did not disguise the fact that his working clothes--his field uniform--were those of a cow-puncher.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading The blue serge suit and checked cap he wore did not disguise the fact that his working clothes--his field uniform--were those of a cow-puncher.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading The train had barely stopped when a boyish-looking, lithe-limbed youth leaped from the platform.
