used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When we reached high ground again the twilight was fading to a semicircle of bloodshot gray in the northwest.
anew
From this reading When we reached high ground again the twilight was fading to a semicircle of bloodshot gray in the northwest.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Down in the coulee we had not noticed it so much, but now every breath was rank with the smell of grass-smoke, and each mile we traversed the stink of it grew stronger.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "We'll be blamed lucky if we don't run into a prairie-fire before mornin'," Piegan grumbled.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading "We'll be blamed lucky if we don't run into a prairie-fire before mornin'," Piegan grumbled.
BISONnounUS /ˈbaɪsən/
any of several large humped bovids having shaggy manes and large heads and short horns
From this reading THE BISON.
blamedadjectiveUS /bleɪmd/
expletives used informally as intensifiers
From this reading "We'll be blamed lucky if we don't run into a prairie-fire before mornin'," Piegan grumbled.
inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard
From this reading The wind still blew squarely in our faces.
bloodshotadjective
(of an eye) reddened as a result of locally congested blood vessels; inflamed
From this reading When we reached high ground again the twilight was fading to a semicircle of bloodshot gray in the northwest.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading Down in the coulee we had not noticed it so much, but now every breath was rank with the smell of grass-smoke, and each mile we traversed the stink of it grew stronger.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Down in the coulee we had not noticed it so much, but now every breath was rank with the smell of grass-smoke, and each mile we traversed the stink of it grew stronger.
coulee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down in the coulee we had not noticed it so much, but now every breath was rank with the smell of grass-smoke, and each mile we traversed the stink of it grew stronger.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We'll be blamed lucky if we don't run into a prairie-fire before mornin'," Piegan grumbled.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Down in the coulee we had not noticed it so much, but now every breath was rank with the smell of grass-smoke, and each mile we traversed the stink of it grew stronger.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Down in the coulee we had not noticed it so much, but now every breath was rank with the smell of grass-smoke, and each mile we traversed the stink of it grew stronger.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Down in the coulee we had not noticed it so much, but now every breath was rank with the smell of grass-smoke, and each mile we traversed the stink of it grew stronger.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The wind still blew squarely in our faces.
fadingnounUS /ˈfeɪdɪŋ/
weakening in force or intensity
From this reading When we reached high ground again the twilight was fading to a semicircle of bloodshot gray in the northwest.
grass-smoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down in the coulee we had not noticed it so much, but now every breath was rank with the smell of grass-smoke, and each mile we traversed the stink of it grew stronger.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading When we reached high ground again the twilight was fading to a semicircle of bloodshot gray in the northwest.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Down in the coulee we had not noticed it so much, but now every breath was rank with the smell of grass-smoke, and each mile we traversed the stink of it grew stronger.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading When we reached high ground again the twilight was fading to a semicircle of bloodshot gray in the northwest.
grumbledverbUS /ˈɡrʌmbəld/
past form of “grumble” — show one's unhappiness or critical attitude
From this reading "We'll be blamed lucky if we don't run into a prairie-fire before mornin'," Piegan grumbled.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Down in the coulee we had not noticed it so much, but now every breath was rank with the smell of grass-smoke, and each mile we traversed the stink of it grew stronger.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading When we reached high ground again the twilight was fading to a semicircle of bloodshot gray in the northwest.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "We'll be blamed lucky if we don't run into a prairie-fire before mornin'," Piegan grumbled.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When we reached high ground again the twilight was fading to a semicircle of bloodshot gray in the northwest.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "We'll be blamed lucky if we don't run into a prairie-fire before mornin'," Piegan grumbled.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Down in the coulee we had not noticed it so much, but now every breath was rank with the smell of grass-smoke, and each mile we traversed the stink of it grew stronger.
occurring by chance
From this reading "We'll be blamed lucky if we don't run into a prairie-fire before mornin'," Piegan grumbled.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Down in the coulee we had not noticed it so much, but now every breath was rank with the smell of grass-smoke, and each mile we traversed the stink of it grew stronger.
mornin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We'll be blamed lucky if we don't run into a prairie-fire before mornin'," Piegan grumbled.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Down in the coulee we had not noticed it so much, but now every breath was rank with the smell of grass-smoke, and each mile we traversed the stink of it grew stronger.
northwestnounUS /ˌnɔːrˈθwest/
the northwestern region of the United States
From this reading When we reached high ground again the twilight was fading to a semicircle of bloodshot gray in the northwest.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Down in the coulee we had not noticed it so much, but now every breath was rank with the smell of grass-smoke, and each mile we traversed the stink of it grew stronger.
being perceived or observed
From this reading Down in the coulee we had not noticed it so much, but now every breath was rank with the smell of grass-smoke, and each mile we traversed the stink of it grew stronger.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Down in the coulee we had not noticed it so much, but now every breath was rank with the smell of grass-smoke, and each mile we traversed the stink of it grew stronger.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When we reached high ground again the twilight was fading to a semicircle of bloodshot gray in the northwest.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The wind still blew squarely in our faces.
Piegan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We'll be blamed lucky if we don't run into a prairie-fire before mornin'," Piegan grumbled.
prairie-fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We'll be blamed lucky if we don't run into a prairie-fire before mornin'," Piegan grumbled.
a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
From this reading Down in the coulee we had not noticed it so much, but now every breath was rank with the smell of grass-smoke, and each mile we traversed the stink of it grew stronger.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading When we reached high ground again the twilight was fading to a semicircle of bloodshot gray in the northwest.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading "We'll be blamed lucky if we don't run into a prairie-fire before mornin'," Piegan grumbled.
semicirclenoun
a plane figure with the shape of half a circle
From this reading When we reached high ground again the twilight was fading to a semicircle of bloodshot gray in the northwest.
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading Down in the coulee we had not noticed it so much, but now every breath was rank with the smell of grass-smoke, and each mile we traversed the stink of it grew stronger.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Down in the coulee we had not noticed it so much, but now every breath was rank with the smell of grass-smoke, and each mile we traversed the stink of it grew stronger.
squarelyadverbUS /ˈskwerli/
directly and without evasion; not roundabout
From this reading The wind still blew squarely in our faces.
not in physical motion
From this reading The wind still blew squarely in our faces.
stinkverbUS /stɪŋk/
be extremely bad in quality or in one's performance
From this reading Down in the coulee we had not noticed it so much, but now every breath was rank with the smell of grass-smoke, and each mile we traversed the stink of it grew stronger.
comparative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Down in the coulee we had not noticed it so much, but now every breath was rank with the smell of grass-smoke, and each mile we traversed the stink of it grew stronger.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BISON.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When we reached high ground again the twilight was fading to a semicircle of bloodshot gray in the northwest.
traversedverbUS /ˈtrævərst/
past form of “traverse” — travel across or pass over
From this reading Down in the coulee we had not noticed it so much, but now every breath was rank with the smell of grass-smoke, and each mile we traversed the stink of it grew stronger.
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading When we reached high ground again the twilight was fading to a semicircle of bloodshot gray in the northwest.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When we reached high ground again the twilight was fading to a semicircle of bloodshot gray in the northwest.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading When we reached high ground again the twilight was fading to a semicircle of bloodshot gray in the northwest.
We'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We'll be blamed lucky if we don't run into a prairie-fire before mornin'," Piegan grumbled.
at the time that
From this reading When we reached high ground again the twilight was fading to a semicircle of bloodshot gray in the northwest.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The wind still blew squarely in our faces.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Down in the coulee we had not noticed it so much, but now every breath was rank with the smell of grass-smoke, and each mile we traversed the stink of it grew stronger.
