Chapter XV · Chapter 15

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

From this reading They arrived opposite us, and then headed by the man with the rifle, who was leading the horse, they obliqued up along the gulch as if they knew of a crossing; so we decided that one of the strangers must be acquainted with the country.

having fair knowledge of

From this reading They arrived opposite us, and then headed by the man with the rifle, who was leading the horse, they obliqued up along the gulch as if they knew of a crossing; so we decided that one of the strangers must be acquainted with the country.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading They made a fine sight, against the horizon.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading While they were approaching, Major Henry wigwagged: "All there?" with his cap; and Fitzpatrick wigwagged back: "Sure!"

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading They arrived opposite us, and then headed by the man with the rifle, who was leading the horse, they obliqued up along the gulch as if they knew of a crossing; so we decided that one of the strangers must be acquainted with the country.

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

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

the event of one object coming closer to another

From this reading While they were approaching, Major Henry wigwagged: "All there?" with his cap; and Fitzpatrick wigwagged back: "Sure!"

past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading They arrived opposite us, and then headed by the man with the rifle, who was leading the horse, they obliqued up along the gulch as if they knew of a crossing; so we decided that one of the strangers must be acquainted with the country.

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

From this reading They arrived opposite us, and then headed by the man with the rifle, who was leading the horse, they obliqued up along the gulch as if they knew of a crossing; so we decided that one of the strangers must be acquainted with the country.

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

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading While they were approaching, Major Henry wigwagged: "All there?" with his cap; and Fitzpatrick wigwagged back: "Sure!"

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading We guessed that the three boys must be our three partners--and when they waved with the Elk Patrol sign we knew; but of course we didn't know who the two strangers were.

the soft brown fur of the beaver

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading We guessed that the three boys must be our three partners--and when they waved with the Elk Patrol sign we knew; but of course we didn't know who the two strangers were.

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

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading We guessed that the three boys must be our three partners--and when they waved with the Elk Patrol sign we knew; but of course we didn't know who the two strangers were.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading They arrived opposite us, and then headed by the man with the rifle, who was leading the horse, they obliqued up along the gulch as if they knew of a crossing; so we decided that one of the strangers must be acquainted with the country.

a tight-fitting headdress

From this reading While they were approaching, Major Henry wigwagged: "All there?" with his cap; and Fitzpatrick wigwagged back: "Sure!"

United States biologist remembered for her opposition to the use of pesticides that were hazardous to wildlife (1907-1964)

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading They arrived opposite us, and then headed by the man with the rifle, who was leading the horse, they obliqued up along the gulch as if they knew of a crossing; so we decided that one of the strangers must be acquainted with the country.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading We guessed that the three boys must be our three partners--and when they waved with the Elk Patrol sign we knew; but of course we didn't know who the two strangers were.

traveling across

From this reading They arrived opposite us, and then headed by the man with the rifle, who was leading the horse, they obliqued up along the gulch as if they knew of a crossing; so we decided that one of the strangers must be acquainted with the country.

recognizable; marked

From this reading They arrived opposite us, and then headed by the man with the rifle, who was leading the horse, they obliqued up along the gulch as if they knew of a crossing; so we decided that one of the strangers must be acquainted with the country.

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

From this reading We guessed that the three boys must be our three partners--and when they waved with the Elk Patrol sign we knew; but of course we didn't know who the two strangers were.

plural of “drop” — a shape that is spherical and small

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

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

From this reading We guessed that the three boys must be our three partners--and when they waved with the Elk Patrol sign we knew; but of course we didn't know who the two strangers were.

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading They made a fine sight, against the horizon.

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

From this reading While they were approaching, Major Henry wigwagged: "All there?" with his cap; and Fitzpatrick wigwagged back: "Sure!"

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading We guessed that the three boys must be our three partners--and when they waved with the Elk Patrol sign we knew; but of course we didn't know who the two strangers were.

a narrow gorge with a stream running through it

From this reading They arrived opposite us, and then headed by the man with the rifle, who was leading the horse, they obliqued up along the gulch as if they knew of a crossing; so we decided that one of the strangers must be acquainted with the country.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

having a heading or course in a certain direction

From this reading They arrived opposite us, and then headed by the man with the rifle, who was leading the horse, they obliqued up along the gulch as if they knew of a crossing; so we decided that one of the strangers must be acquainted with the country.

a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading While they were approaching, Major Henry wigwagged: "All there?" with his cap; and Fitzpatrick wigwagged back: "Sure!"

the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet

From this reading They made a fine sight, against the horizon.

solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading They arrived opposite us, and then headed by the man with the rifle, who was leading the horse, they obliqued up along the gulch as if they knew of a crossing; so we decided that one of the strangers must be acquainted with the country.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading They arrived opposite us, and then headed by the man with the rifle, who was leading the horse, they obliqued up along the gulch as if they knew of a crossing; so we decided that one of the strangers must be acquainted with the country.

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

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

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

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

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

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

a case for containing a set of articles

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading We guessed that the three boys must be our three partners--and when they waved with the Elk Patrol sign we knew; but of course we didn't know who the two strangers were.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading We guessed that the three boys must be our three partners--and when they waved with the Elk Patrol sign we knew; but of course we didn't know who the two strangers were.

indicating the most important performer or role

From this reading They arrived opposite us, and then headed by the man with the rifle, who was leading the horse, they obliqued up along the gulch as if they knew of a crossing; so we decided that one of the strangers must be acquainted with the country.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading They made a fine sight, against the horizon.

of greater importance or stature or rank

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading We guessed that the three boys must be our three partners--and when they waved with the Elk Patrol sign we knew; but of course we didn't know who the two strangers were.

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

From this reading They arrived opposite us, and then headed by the man with the rifle, who was leading the horse, they obliqued up along the gulch as if they knew of a crossing; so we decided that one of the strangers must be acquainted with the country.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading They arrived opposite us, and then headed by the man with the rifle, who was leading the horse, they obliqued up along the gulch as if they knew of a crossing; so we decided that one of the strangers must be acquainted with the country.

being directly across from each other; facing

From this reading They arrived opposite us, and then headed by the man with the rifle, who was leading the horse, they obliqued up along the gulch as if they knew of a crossing; so we decided that one of the strangers must be acquainted with the country.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading We guessed that the three boys must be our three partners--and when they waved with the Elk Patrol sign we knew; but of course we didn't know who the two strangers were.

the one or ones belonging to us

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

plural of “partner” — a person's partner in marriage

From this reading We guessed that the three boys must be our three partners--and when they waved with the Elk Patrol sign we knew; but of course we didn't know who the two strangers were.

a detachment used for security or reconnaissance

From this reading We guessed that the three boys must be our three partners--and when they waved with the Elk Patrol sign we knew; but of course we didn't know who the two strangers were.

a member of the Texas state highway patrol; formerly a mounted lawman who maintained order on the frontier

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

plural of “resume” — short descriptive summary (of events)

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

steal goods; take as spoils

From this reading They arrived opposite us, and then headed by the man with the rifle, who was leading the horse, they obliqued up along the gulch as if they knew of a crossing; so we decided that one of the strangers must be acquainted with the country.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

an instance of visual perception

From this reading They made a fine sight, against the horizon.

a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)

From this reading We guessed that the three boys must be our three partners--and when they waved with the Elk Patrol sign we knew; but of course we didn't know who the two strangers were.

Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading They arrived opposite us, and then headed by the man with the rifle, who was leading the horse, they obliqued up along the gulch as if they knew of a crossing; so we decided that one of the strangers must be acquainted with the country.

plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading We guessed that the three boys must be our three partners--and when they waved with the Elk Patrol sign we knew; but of course we didn't know who the two strangers were.

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading While they were approaching, Major Henry wigwagged: "All there?" with his cap; and Fitzpatrick wigwagged back: "Sure!"

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

express in words

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

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

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading They arrived opposite us, and then headed by the man with the rifle, who was leading the horse, they obliqued up along the gulch as if they knew of a crossing; so we decided that one of the strangers must be acquainted with the country.

in or at that place or location

From this reading While they were approaching, Major Henry wigwagged: "All there?" with his cap; and Fitzpatrick wigwagged back: "Sure!"

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading We guessed that the three boys must be our three partners--and when they waved with the Elk Patrol sign we knew; but of course we didn't know who the two strangers were.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading We guessed that the three boys must be our three partners--and when they waved with the Elk Patrol sign we knew; but of course we didn't know who the two strangers were.

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

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

the time of day immediately following sunset

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading We guessed that the three boys must be our three partners--and when they waved with the Elk Patrol sign we knew; but of course we didn't know who the two strangers were.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading They arrived opposite us, and then headed by the man with the rifle, who was leading the horse, they obliqued up along the gulch as if they knew of a crossing; so we decided that one of the strangers must be acquainted with the country.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading They arrived opposite us, and then headed by the man with the rifle, who was leading the horse, they obliqued up along the gulch as if they knew of a crossing; so we decided that one of the strangers must be acquainted with the country.

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

From this reading They arrived opposite us, and then headed by the man with the rifle, who was leading the horse, they obliqued up along the gulch as if they knew of a crossing; so we decided that one of the strangers must be acquainted with the country.

past form of “wave” — signal with the hands or nod

From this reading We guessed that the three boys must be our three partners--and when they waved with the Elk Patrol sign we knew; but of course we didn't know who the two strangers were.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

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

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

at the time that

From this reading We guessed that the three boys must be our three partners--and when they waved with the Elk Patrol sign we knew; but of course we didn't know who the two strangers were.

during the time that

From this reading While they were approaching, Major Henry wigwagged: "All there?" with his cap; and Fitzpatrick wigwagged back: "Sure!"

which person or people

From this reading We guessed that the three boys must be our three partners--and when they waved with the Elk Patrol sign we knew; but of course we didn't know who the two strangers were.

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

From this reading While they were approaching, Major Henry wigwagged: "All there?" with his cap; and Fitzpatrick wigwagged back: "Sure!"

in the company of; together with

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading GENERAL ASHLEY DROPS OUT (JIM BRIDGER RESUMES THE TALE) I tell you, we were glad to have that smoke of ours answered, and to see Major Henry and Kit Carson and Jed Smith coming, in the twilight, with the Ranger and the beaver man.