used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The black lava patch, laid across the gray rhyolite flank of Shadow Mountain like the shade of an angry cloud, still frowned down upon the town like a portent of storms to come.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The black lava patch, laid across the gray rhyolite flank of Shadow Mountain like the shade of an angry cloud, still frowned down upon the town like a portent of storms to come.
plural of “adventure” — a wild and exciting undertaking (not necessarily lawful)
From this reading After all his boldness, his unbelievable effrontery in trying to steal her Paymaster stock, he had gone on laughing to seek other adventures and left her with the mine on her hands.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After all his boldness, his unbelievable effrontery in trying to steal her Paymaster stock, he had gone on laughing to seek other adventures and left her with the mine on her hands.
(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 After all his boldness, his unbelievable effrontery in trying to steal her Paymaster stock, he had gone on laughing to seek other adventures and left her with the mine on her hands.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The black lava patch, laid across the gray rhyolite flank of Shadow Mountain like the shade of an angry cloud, still frowned down upon the town like a portent of storms to come.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE SHADOW The old, settled quiet returned to sleepy Keno--the quiet of the desert and of empty, noiseless houses stretching in long, sunburned rows down the canyon.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading The black lava patch, laid across the gray rhyolite flank of Shadow Mountain like the shade of an angry cloud, still frowned down upon the town like a portent of storms to come.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading But he would come back, she knew it; and with her gun loaded with buckshot she watched from the shelter of the gallery.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The black lava patch, laid across the gray rhyolite flank of Shadow Mountain like the shade of an angry cloud, still frowned down upon the town like a portent of storms to come.
boldnessnounUS /ˈboʊldnəs/
the trait of being willing to undertake things that involve risk or danger
From this reading After all his boldness, his unbelievable effrontery in trying to steal her Paymaster stock, he had gone on laughing to seek other adventures and left her with the mine on her hands.
buckshotnounUS /ˈbʌkʃɑːt/
small lead shot for shotgun shells
From this reading But he would come back, she knew it; and with her gun loaded with buckshot she watched from the shelter of the gallery.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the sky was hot and gleaming and no storms came; nor did Wiley Holman return, though the Widow waited for him patiently.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But the sky was hot and gleaming and no storms came; nor did Wiley Holman return, though the Widow waited for him patiently.
canyonnounUS /ˈkænjən/
a ravine formed by a river in an area with little rainfall
From this reading THE SHADOW The old, settled quiet returned to sleepy Keno--the quiet of the desert and of empty, noiseless houses stretching in long, sunburned rows down the canyon.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading The black lava patch, laid across the gray rhyolite flank of Shadow Mountain like the shade of an angry cloud, still frowned down upon the town like a portent of storms to come.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The black lava patch, laid across the gray rhyolite flank of Shadow Mountain like the shade of an angry cloud, still frowned down upon the town like a portent of storms to come.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading THE SHADOW The old, settled quiet returned to sleepy Keno--the quiet of the desert and of empty, noiseless houses stretching in long, sunburned rows down the canyon.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But the sky was hot and gleaming and no storms came; nor did Wiley Holman return, though the Widow waited for him patiently.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading THE SHADOW The old, settled quiet returned to sleepy Keno--the quiet of the desert and of empty, noiseless houses stretching in long, sunburned rows down the canyon.
effronterynounUS /ɪˈfrʌntəri/
audacious (even arrogant) behavior that you have no right to
From this reading After all his boldness, his unbelievable effrontery in trying to steal her Paymaster stock, he had gone on laughing to seek other adventures and left her with the mine on her hands.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading THE SHADOW The old, settled quiet returned to sleepy Keno--the quiet of the desert and of empty, noiseless houses stretching in long, sunburned rows down the canyon.
flanknounUS /flæŋk/
the side of military or naval formation
From this reading The black lava patch, laid across the gray rhyolite flank of Shadow Mountain like the shade of an angry cloud, still frowned down upon the town like a portent of storms to come.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But the sky was hot and gleaming and no storms came; nor did Wiley Holman return, though the Widow waited for him patiently.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But he would come back, she knew it; and with her gun loaded with buckshot she watched from the shelter of the gallery.
frownedverbUS /fraʊnd/
past form of “frown” — look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval
From this reading The black lava patch, laid across the gray rhyolite flank of Shadow Mountain like the shade of an angry cloud, still frowned down upon the town like a portent of storms to come.
gallerynounUS /ˈɡæləri/
spectators at a golf or tennis match
From this reading But he would come back, she knew it; and with her gun loaded with buckshot she watched from the shelter of the gallery.
gleamingnounUS /ˈɡliːmɪŋ/
a flash of light (especially reflected light)
From this reading But the sky was hot and gleaming and no storms came; nor did Wiley Holman return, though the Widow waited for him patiently.
destroyed or killed
From this reading After all his boldness, his unbelievable effrontery in trying to steal her Paymaster stock, he had gone on laughing to seek other adventures and left her with the mine on her hands.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading The black lava patch, laid across the gray rhyolite flank of Shadow Mountain like the shade of an angry cloud, still frowned down upon the town like a portent of storms to come.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading But he would come back, she knew it; and with her gun loaded with buckshot she watched from the shelter of the gallery.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading After all his boldness, his unbelievable effrontery in trying to steal her Paymaster stock, he had gone on laughing to seek other adventures and left her with the mine on her hands.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading After all his boldness, his unbelievable effrontery in trying to steal her Paymaster stock, he had gone on laughing to seek other adventures and left her with the mine on her hands.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading After all his boldness, his unbelievable effrontery in trying to steal her Paymaster stock, he had gone on laughing to seek other adventures and left her with the mine on her hands.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading After all his boldness, his unbelievable effrontery in trying to steal her Paymaster stock, he had gone on laughing to seek other adventures and left her with the mine on her hands.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But the sky was hot and gleaming and no storms came; nor did Wiley Holman return, though the Widow waited for him patiently.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading After all his boldness, his unbelievable effrontery in trying to steal her Paymaster stock, he had gone on laughing to seek other adventures and left her with the mine on her hands.
Holman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the sky was hot and gleaming and no storms came; nor did Wiley Holman return, though the Widow waited for him patiently.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading But the sky was hot and gleaming and no storms came; nor did Wiley Holman return, though the Widow waited for him patiently.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading THE SHADOW The old, settled quiet returned to sleepy Keno--the quiet of the desert and of empty, noiseless houses stretching in long, sunburned rows down the canyon.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE SHADOW The old, settled quiet returned to sleepy Keno--the quiet of the desert and of empty, noiseless houses stretching in long, sunburned rows down the canyon.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But he would come back, she knew it; and with her gun loaded with buckshot she watched from the shelter of the gallery.
KenonounUS /ˈkiːnoʊ/
a game in which numbered balls are drawn at random and players cover the corresponding numbers on their cards
From this reading THE SHADOW The old, settled quiet returned to sleepy Keno--the quiet of the desert and of empty, noiseless houses stretching in long, sunburned rows down the canyon.
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 But he would come back, she knew it; and with her gun loaded with buckshot she watched from the shelter of the gallery.
set down according to a plan
From this reading The black lava patch, laid across the gray rhyolite flank of Shadow Mountain like the shade of an angry cloud, still frowned down upon the town like a portent of storms to come.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading After all his boldness, his unbelievable effrontery in trying to steal her Paymaster stock, he had gone on laughing to seek other adventures and left her with the mine on her hands.
lavanounUS /ˈlɑːvə/
rock that in its molten form (as magma) issues from volcanos; lava is what magma is called when it reaches the surface
From this reading The black lava patch, laid across the gray rhyolite flank of Shadow Mountain like the shade of an angry cloud, still frowned down upon the town like a portent of storms to come.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading After all his boldness, his unbelievable effrontery in trying to steal her Paymaster stock, he had gone on laughing to seek other adventures and left her with the mine on her hands.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The black lava patch, laid across the gray rhyolite flank of Shadow Mountain like the shade of an angry cloud, still frowned down upon the town like a portent of storms to come.
loadedadjectiveUS /ˈloʊdɪd/
filled with a great quantity
From this reading But he would come back, she knew it; and with her gun loaded with buckshot she watched from the shelter of the gallery.
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 THE SHADOW The old, settled quiet returned to sleepy Keno--the quiet of the desert and of empty, noiseless houses stretching in long, sunburned rows down the canyon.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading After all his boldness, his unbelievable effrontery in trying to steal her Paymaster stock, he had gone on laughing to seek other adventures and left her with the mine on her hands.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading The black lava patch, laid across the gray rhyolite flank of Shadow Mountain like the shade of an angry cloud, still frowned down upon the town like a portent of storms to come.
not any; not one
From this reading But the sky was hot and gleaming and no storms came; nor did Wiley Holman return, though the Widow waited for him patiently.
noiselessadjective
making no sound
From this reading THE SHADOW The old, settled quiet returned to sleepy Keno--the quiet of the desert and of empty, noiseless houses stretching in long, sunburned rows down the canyon.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading But the sky was hot and gleaming and no storms came; nor did Wiley Holman return, though the Widow waited for him patiently.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SHADOW The old, settled quiet returned to sleepy Keno--the quiet of the desert and of empty, noiseless houses stretching in long, sunburned rows down the canyon.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading THE SHADOW The old, settled quiet returned to sleepy Keno--the quiet of the desert and of empty, noiseless houses stretching in long, sunburned rows down the canyon.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading After all his boldness, his unbelievable effrontery in trying to steal her Paymaster stock, he had gone on laughing to seek other adventures and left her with the mine on her hands.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading After all his boldness, his unbelievable effrontery in trying to steal her Paymaster stock, he had gone on laughing to seek other adventures and left her with the mine on her hands.
patchnounUS /pætʃ/
a small contrasting part of something
From this reading The black lava patch, laid across the gray rhyolite flank of Shadow Mountain like the shade of an angry cloud, still frowned down upon the town like a portent of storms to come.
patientlyadverbUS /ˈpeɪʃəntli/
with patience; in a patient manner
From this reading But the sky was hot and gleaming and no storms came; nor did Wiley Holman return, though the Widow waited for him patiently.
Paymasternoun
a person in charge of paying wages
From this reading After all his boldness, his unbelievable effrontery in trying to steal her Paymaster stock, he had gone on laughing to seek other adventures and left her with the mine on her hands.
portentnounUS /ˈpɔːrtent/
a sign of something about to happen
From this reading The black lava patch, laid across the gray rhyolite flank of Shadow Mountain like the shade of an angry cloud, still frowned down upon the town like a portent of storms to come.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading THE SHADOW The old, settled quiet returned to sleepy Keno--the quiet of the desert and of empty, noiseless houses stretching in long, sunburned rows down the canyon.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading But the sky was hot and gleaming and no storms came; nor did Wiley Holman return, though the Widow waited for him patiently.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading THE SHADOW The old, settled quiet returned to sleepy Keno--the quiet of the desert and of empty, noiseless houses stretching in long, sunburned rows down the canyon.
rhyolitenoun
very acid volcanic rock
From this reading The black lava patch, laid across the gray rhyolite flank of Shadow Mountain like the shade of an angry cloud, still frowned down upon the town like a portent of storms to come.
rowsnounUS /roʊz/
plural of “row” — an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading THE SHADOW The old, settled quiet returned to sleepy Keno--the quiet of the desert and of empty, noiseless houses stretching in long, sunburned rows down the canyon.
try to get or reach
From this reading After all his boldness, his unbelievable effrontery in trying to steal her Paymaster stock, he had gone on laughing to seek other adventures and left her with the mine on her hands.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading THE SHADOW The old, settled quiet returned to sleepy Keno--the quiet of the desert and of empty, noiseless houses stretching in long, sunburned rows down the canyon.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading The black lava patch, laid across the gray rhyolite flank of Shadow Mountain like the shade of an angry cloud, still frowned down upon the town like a portent of storms to come.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading THE SHADOW The old, settled quiet returned to sleepy Keno--the quiet of the desert and of empty, noiseless houses stretching in long, sunburned rows down the canyon.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But he would come back, she knew it; and with her gun loaded with buckshot she watched from the shelter of the gallery.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading But he would come back, she knew it; and with her gun loaded with buckshot she watched from the shelter of the gallery.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading But the sky was hot and gleaming and no storms came; nor did Wiley Holman return, though the Widow waited for him patiently.
sleepyadjectiveUS /ˈsliːpi/
ready to fall asleep
From this reading THE SHADOW The old, settled quiet returned to sleepy Keno--the quiet of the desert and of empty, noiseless houses stretching in long, sunburned rows down the canyon.
stealverbUS /stiːl/
take without the owner's consent
From this reading After all his boldness, his unbelievable effrontery in trying to steal her Paymaster stock, he had gone on laughing to seek other adventures and left her with the mine on her hands.
not in physical motion
From this reading The black lava patch, laid across the gray rhyolite flank of Shadow Mountain like the shade of an angry cloud, still frowned down upon the town like a portent of storms to come.
the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest
From this reading After all his boldness, his unbelievable effrontery in trying to steal her Paymaster stock, he had gone on laughing to seek other adventures and left her with the mine on her hands.
stormsnounUS /stɔːrmz/
plural of “storm” — a violent weather condition with winds 64-72 knots (11 on the Beaufort scale) and precipitation and thunder and lightning
From this reading The black lava patch, laid across the gray rhyolite flank of Shadow Mountain like the shade of an angry cloud, still frowned down upon the town like a portent of storms to come.
stretchingnounUS /ˈstretʃɪŋ/
act of expanding by lengthening or widening
From this reading THE SHADOW The old, settled quiet returned to sleepy Keno--the quiet of the desert and of empty, noiseless houses stretching in long, sunburned rows down the canyon.
sunburnedadjectiveUS /ˈsʌnbɜːrnd/
suffering from overexposure to direct sunlight
From this reading THE SHADOW The old, settled quiet returned to sleepy Keno--the quiet of the desert and of empty, noiseless houses stretching in long, sunburned rows down the canyon.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SHADOW The old, settled quiet returned to sleepy Keno--the quiet of the desert and of empty, noiseless houses stretching in long, sunburned rows down the canyon.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading But the sky was hot and gleaming and no storms came; nor did Wiley Holman return, though the Widow waited for him patiently.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE SHADOW The old, settled quiet returned to sleepy Keno--the quiet of the desert and of empty, noiseless houses stretching in long, sunburned rows down the canyon.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The black lava patch, laid across the gray rhyolite flank of Shadow Mountain like the shade of an angry cloud, still frowned down upon the town like a portent of storms to come.
hard to endure
From this reading After all his boldness, his unbelievable effrontery in trying to steal her Paymaster stock, he had gone on laughing to seek other adventures and left her with the mine on her hands.
unbelievableadjectiveUS /ˌʌnbəˈliːvəbəl/
beyond belief or understanding
From this reading After all his boldness, his unbelievable effrontery in trying to steal her Paymaster stock, he had gone on laughing to seek other adventures and left her with the mine on her hands.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The black lava patch, laid across the gray rhyolite flank of Shadow Mountain like the shade of an angry cloud, still frowned down upon the town like a portent of storms to come.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading But the sky was hot and gleaming and no storms came; nor did Wiley Holman return, though the Widow waited for him patiently.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the sky was hot and gleaming and no storms came; nor did Wiley Holman return, though the Widow waited for him patiently.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading But he would come back, she knew it; and with her gun loaded with buckshot she watched from the shelter of the gallery.
a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried
From this reading But the sky was hot and gleaming and no storms came; nor did Wiley Holman return, though the Widow waited for him patiently.
Wiley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the sky was hot and gleaming and no storms came; nor did Wiley Holman return, though the Widow waited for him patiently.
in the company of; together with
From this reading After all his boldness, his unbelievable effrontery in trying to steal her Paymaster stock, he had gone on laughing to seek other adventures and left her with the mine on her hands.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But he would come back, she knew it; and with her gun loaded with buckshot she watched from the shelter of the gallery.
