used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Ruth had already set down the bucket of water and drawn the heavy pistol from her belt.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Ruth had already set down the bucket of water and drawn the heavy pistol from her belt.
move towards
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading If the girl approached too near he would spring upon her.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
beltnounUS /belt/
endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys
From this reading Ruth had already set down the bucket of water and drawn the heavy pistol from her belt.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
bucketnounUS /ˈbʌkət/
a roughly cylindrical vessel that is open at the top
From this reading Ruth had already set down the bucket of water and drawn the heavy pistol from her belt.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
crouchedverbUS /kraʊtʃt/
past form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading The wolf crouched, growling and showing his fangs.
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
disturbverbUS /dɪˈstɜːrb/
move deeply
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Ruth had already set down the bucket of water and drawn the heavy pistol from her belt.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading Ruth had already set down the bucket of water and drawn the heavy pistol from her belt.
fangsnounUS /fæŋz/
plural of “fang” — a Bantu language spoken in Cameroon
From this reading The wolf crouched, growling and showing his fangs.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Ruth had already set down the bucket of water and drawn the heavy pistol from her belt.
a young female
From this reading If the girl approached too near he would spring upon her.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
growlingnounUS /ˈɡroʊlɪŋ/
a gruff or angry utterance (suggestive of the growling of an animal)
From this reading The wolf crouched, growling and showing his fangs.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Ruth had already set down the bucket of water and drawn the heavy pistol from her belt.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If the girl approached too near he would spring upon her.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Ruth had already set down the bucket of water and drawn the heavy pistol from her belt.
lacking in or deprived of strength or power
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Ruth had already set down the bucket of water and drawn the heavy pistol from her belt.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
hittingnounUS /ˈhɪtɪŋ/
the act of contacting one thing with another
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
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 The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading If the girl approached too near he would spring upon her.
not any; not one
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
not divisible by two
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Ruth had already set down the bucket of water and drawn the heavy pistol from her belt.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
a person who requires medical care
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading Ruth had already set down the bucket of water and drawn the heavy pistol from her belt.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
ranchnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading Ruth had already set down the bucket of water and drawn the heavy pistol from her belt.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Ruth had already set down the bucket of water and drawn the heavy pistol from her belt.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
the display of a motion picture
From this reading The wolf crouched, growling and showing his fangs.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
six-shooters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
an ability that has been acquired by training
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
the season of growth
From this reading If the girl approached too near he would spring upon her.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Ruth had already set down the bucket of water and drawn the heavy pistol from her belt.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading If the girl approached too near he would spring upon her.
hard to endure
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading If the girl approached too near he would spring upon her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading Ruth had already set down the bucket of water and drawn the heavy pistol from her belt.
in or at the place that
From this reading The beast made no approach; but his intention of returning to the door of the cabin where the sick man lay, if she did not disturb him, was so plain that Ruth dared not desert the helpless patient!
in the company of; together with
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If the girl approached too near he would spring upon her.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading The girls had been trying their skill with six-shooters at the ranch at odd times, and she knew that she stood a good chance of hitting the big gray wolf at ten or twelve yards.
