used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Whew!” he panted, “here is a go.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Thank God the dispatches are safe,” and he tapped his breast, where they lay hidden.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Thank God the dispatches are safe,” and he tapped his breast, where they lay hidden.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Horse gone—arms, except this small revolver, gone—baggage gone—letters gone.
ascertainverbUS /ˌæsərˈteɪn/
establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
baggagenounUS /ˈbæɡədʒ/
cases used to carry belongings when traveling
From this reading Horse gone—arms, except this small revolver, gone—baggage gone—letters gone.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading Thank God the dispatches are safe,” and he tapped his breast, where they lay hidden.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
Calhoun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
dispatchesnounUS /dɪˈspætʃɪz/
plural of “dispatch” — an official report (usually sent in haste)
From this reading Thank God the dispatches are safe,” and he tapped his breast, where they lay hidden.
apart from; not including
From this reading Horse gone—arms, except this small revolver, gone—baggage gone—letters gone.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “Whew!” he panted, “here is a go.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading Thank God the dispatches are safe,” and he tapped his breast, where they lay hidden.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Horse gone—arms, except this small revolver, gone—baggage gone—letters gone.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
headlongadverbUS /ˈhedlɔːŋ/
with the head foremost
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “Whew!” he panted, “here is a go.
not accessible to view
From this reading Thank God the dispatches are safe,” and he tapped his breast, where they lay hidden.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading Horse gone—arms, except this small revolver, gone—baggage gone—letters gone.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading RECRUITING IN KENTUCKY.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Whew!” he panted, “here is a go.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
KENTUCKYnounUS /kənˈtʌki/
a state in east central United States; a border state during the American Civil War; famous for breeding race horses
From this reading RECRUITING IN KENTUCKY.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Thank God the dispatches are safe,” and he tapped his breast, where they lay hidden.
the literary culture
From this reading Horse gone—arms, except this small revolver, gone—baggage gone—letters gone.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
pantedverbUS /ˈpæntɪd/
past form of “pant” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading “Whew!” he panted, “here is a go.
past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
a person who is being chased
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
RECRUITINGverbUS /rəˈkruːtɪŋ/
-ing form of “recruit” — register formally as a participant or member
From this reading RECRUITING IN KENTUCKY.
revolvernounUS /rɪˈvɑːlvər/
a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
From this reading Horse gone—arms, except this small revolver, gone—baggage gone—letters gone.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading Thank God the dispatches are safe,” and he tapped his breast, where they lay hidden.
slackenedverbUS /ˈslækənd/
past form of “slacken” — become slow or slower
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Horse gone—arms, except this small revolver, gone—baggage gone—letters gone.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
carry out
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
tappedadjectiveUS /tæpt/
in a condition for letting out liquid drawn out as by piercing or drawing a plug
From this reading Thank God the dispatches are safe,” and he tapped his breast, where they lay hidden.
express gratitude or show appreciation to
From this reading Thank God the dispatches are safe,” and he tapped his breast, where they lay hidden.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Thank God the dispatches are safe,” and he tapped his breast, where they lay hidden.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Horse gone—arms, except this small revolver, gone—baggage gone—letters gone.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
in or at the place that
From this reading Thank God the dispatches are safe,” and he tapped his breast, where they lay hidden.
Whew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Whew!” he panted, “here is a go.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
