used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MASTER-STROKE OF VILLAINY.
abilitynounUS /əˈbɪlətiː/
the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment
From this reading Piegan shortly proved that he made no vain boast when he asserted his ability to follow their track.
(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 The crushing of a tuft of grass, a broken twig, all the half-hidden signs that the feet of horses and men leave behind, held a message for him; nothing, however slight, escaped his eagle eye.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A lifetime on the plains, and a natural fitness for the life, had made him own brother to the Indian in the matter of nosing out dim trails.
assertedadjectiveUS /əˈsɜːrtɪd/
confidently declared to be so
From this reading Piegan shortly proved that he made no vain boast when he asserted his ability to follow their track.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The crushing of a tuft of grass, a broken twig, all the half-hidden signs that the feet of horses and men leave behind, held a message for him; nothing, however slight, escaped his eagle eye.
boastverbUS /boʊst/
show off
From this reading Piegan shortly proved that he made no vain boast when he asserted his ability to follow their track.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading The crushing of a tuft of grass, a broken twig, all the half-hidden signs that the feet of horses and men leave behind, held a message for him; nothing, however slight, escaped his eagle eye.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading A lifetime on the plains, and a natural fitness for the life, had made him own brother to the Indian in the matter of nosing out dim trails.
crushingadjectiveUS /ˈkrʌʃɪŋ/
physically or spiritually devastating; often used in combination
From this reading The crushing of a tuft of grass, a broken twig, all the half-hidden signs that the feet of horses and men leave behind, held a message for him; nothing, however slight, escaped his eagle eye.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading And he did it subconsciously, without perceptible effort.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading A lifetime on the plains, and a natural fitness for the life, had made him own brother to the Indian in the matter of nosing out dim trails.
eaglenounUS /ˈiːɡəl/
any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight
From this reading The crushing of a tuft of grass, a broken twig, all the half-hidden signs that the feet of horses and men leave behind, held a message for him; nothing, however slight, escaped his eagle eye.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading And he did it subconsciously, without perceptible effort.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading The crushing of a tuft of grass, a broken twig, all the half-hidden signs that the feet of horses and men leave behind, held a message for him; nothing, however slight, escaped his eagle eye.
the organ of sight
From this reading The crushing of a tuft of grass, a broken twig, all the half-hidden signs that the feet of horses and men leave behind, held a message for him; nothing, however slight, escaped his eagle eye.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The crushing of a tuft of grass, a broken twig, all the half-hidden signs that the feet of horses and men leave behind, held a message for him; nothing, however slight, escaped his eagle eye.
fitnessnounUS /ˈfɪtnəs/
the quality of being suitable
From this reading A lifetime on the plains, and a natural fitness for the life, had made him own brother to the Indian in the matter of nosing out dim trails.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Piegan shortly proved that he made no vain boast when he asserted his ability to follow their track.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A lifetime on the plains, and a natural fitness for the life, had made him own brother to the Indian in the matter of nosing out dim trails.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading The crushing of a tuft of grass, a broken twig, all the half-hidden signs that the feet of horses and men leave behind, held a message for him; nothing, however slight, escaped his eagle eye.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A lifetime on the plains, and a natural fitness for the life, had made him own brother to the Indian in the matter of nosing out dim trails.
half-hidden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crushing of a tuft of grass, a broken twig, all the half-hidden signs that the feet of horses and men leave behind, held a message for him; nothing, however slight, escaped his eagle eye.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Piegan shortly proved that he made no vain boast when he asserted his ability to follow their track.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The crushing of a tuft of grass, a broken twig, all the half-hidden signs that the feet of horses and men leave behind, held a message for him; nothing, however slight, escaped his eagle eye.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A lifetime on the plains, and a natural fitness for the life, had made him own brother to the Indian in the matter of nosing out dim trails.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Piegan shortly proved that he made no vain boast when he asserted his ability to follow their track.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading The crushing of a tuft of grass, a broken twig, all the half-hidden signs that the feet of horses and men leave behind, held a message for him; nothing, however slight, escaped his eagle eye.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The crushing of a tuft of grass, a broken twig, all the half-hidden signs that the feet of horses and men leave behind, held a message for him; nothing, however slight, escaped his eagle eye.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A lifetime on the plains, and a natural fitness for the life, had made him own brother to the Indian in the matter of nosing out dim trails.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading A lifetime on the plains, and a natural fitness for the life, had made him own brother to the Indian in the matter of nosing out dim trails.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And he did it subconsciously, without perceptible effort.
go away from a place
From this reading The crushing of a tuft of grass, a broken twig, all the half-hidden signs that the feet of horses and men leave behind, held a message for him; nothing, however slight, escaped his eagle eye.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading A lifetime on the plains, and a natural fitness for the life, had made him own brother to the Indian in the matter of nosing out dim trails.
lifetimenounUS /ˈlaɪftaɪm/
the period during which something is functional (as between birth and death)
From this reading A lifetime on the plains, and a natural fitness for the life, had made him own brother to the Indian in the matter of nosing out dim trails.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Piegan shortly proved that he made no vain boast when he asserted his ability to follow their track.
MASTER-STROKE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A MASTER-STROKE OF VILLAINY.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading A lifetime on the plains, and a natural fitness for the life, had made him own brother to the Indian in the matter of nosing out dim trails.
the force of workers available
From this reading The crushing of a tuft of grass, a broken twig, all the half-hidden signs that the feet of horses and men leave behind, held a message for him; nothing, however slight, escaped his eagle eye.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading The crushing of a tuft of grass, a broken twig, all the half-hidden signs that the feet of horses and men leave behind, held a message for him; nothing, however slight, escaped his eagle eye.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading A lifetime on the plains, and a natural fitness for the life, had made him own brother to the Indian in the matter of nosing out dim trails.
not any; not one
From this reading Piegan shortly proved that he made no vain boast when he asserted his ability to follow their track.
nosingverbUS /ˈnoʊzɪŋ/
-ing form of “nose” — search or inquire in a meddlesome way
From this reading A lifetime on the plains, and a natural fitness for the life, had made him own brother to the Indian in the matter of nosing out dim trails.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The crushing of a tuft of grass, a broken twig, all the half-hidden signs that the feet of horses and men leave behind, held a message for him; nothing, however slight, escaped his eagle eye.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A MASTER-STROKE OF VILLAINY.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A lifetime on the plains, and a natural fitness for the life, had made him own brother to the Indian in the matter of nosing out dim trails.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A lifetime on the plains, and a natural fitness for the life, had made him own brother to the Indian in the matter of nosing out dim trails.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading A lifetime on the plains, and a natural fitness for the life, had made him own brother to the Indian in the matter of nosing out dim trails.
perceptibleadjectiveUS /pərˈseptəbəl/
capable of being perceived by the mind or senses
From this reading And he did it subconsciously, without perceptible effort.
Piegan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Piegan shortly proved that he made no vain boast when he asserted his ability to follow their track.
plainsnounUS /pleɪnz/
plural of “plain” — extensive tract of level open land
From this reading A lifetime on the plains, and a natural fitness for the life, had made him own brother to the Indian in the matter of nosing out dim trails.
established beyond doubt
From this reading Piegan shortly proved that he made no vain boast when he asserted his ability to follow their track.
for a short time
From this reading Piegan shortly proved that he made no vain boast when he asserted his ability to follow their track.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading The crushing of a tuft of grass, a broken twig, all the half-hidden signs that the feet of horses and men leave behind, held a message for him; nothing, however slight, escaped his eagle eye.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading The crushing of a tuft of grass, a broken twig, all the half-hidden signs that the feet of horses and men leave behind, held a message for him; nothing, however slight, escaped his eagle eye.
subconsciouslyadverbUS /səbˈkɑːnʃəsli/
from the subconscious mind
From this reading And he did it subconsciously, without perceptible effort.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Piegan shortly proved that he made no vain boast when he asserted his ability to follow their track.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A lifetime on the plains, and a natural fitness for the life, had made him own brother to the Indian in the matter of nosing out dim trails.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Piegan shortly proved that he made no vain boast when he asserted his ability to follow their track.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Piegan shortly proved that he made no vain boast when he asserted his ability to follow their track.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading Piegan shortly proved that he made no vain boast when he asserted his ability to follow their track.
trailsnounUS /treɪlz/
plural of “trail” — a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading A lifetime on the plains, and a natural fitness for the life, had made him own brother to the Indian in the matter of nosing out dim trails.
tuftnounUS /tʌft/
a bunch of hair or feathers or growing grass
From this reading The crushing of a tuft of grass, a broken twig, all the half-hidden signs that the feet of horses and men leave behind, held a message for him; nothing, however slight, escaped his eagle eye.
twigverbUS /twɪɡ/
branch out in a twiglike manner
From this reading The crushing of a tuft of grass, a broken twig, all the half-hidden signs that the feet of horses and men leave behind, held a message for him; nothing, however slight, escaped his eagle eye.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading Piegan shortly proved that he made no vain boast when he asserted his ability to follow their track.
VILLAINYnoun
the quality of evil by virtue of villainous behavior
From this reading A MASTER-STROKE OF VILLAINY.
at the time that
From this reading Piegan shortly proved that he made no vain boast when he asserted his ability to follow their track.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading And he did it subconsciously, without perceptible effort.
