used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DOUBTFUL CLUE PIET VAN DER WYCK had no difficulty in catching one of the masterless steeds while the Haussa secured the other.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading They had been cantering along at an easy pace, and gave no indications of having been frightened.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They had been cantering along at an easy pace, and gave no indications of having been frightened.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They had been cantering along at an easy pace, and gave no indications of having been frightened.
plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading The animals seemed hardly distressed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They had been cantering along at an easy pace, and gave no indications of having been frightened.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They had been cantering along at an easy pace, and gave no indications of having been frightened.
befallenverbUS /bəˈfɑːlən/
inflected form of “befall” — become of; happen to
From this reading Bridle, saddle, and stirrups were in place; there was nothing to give a clue to what had befallen the riders.
BridlenounUS /ˈbraɪdəl/
headgear for a horse; includes a headstall and bit and reins to give the rider or driver control
From this reading Bridle, saddle, and stirrups were in place; there was nothing to give a clue to what had befallen the riders.
canteringadjective
riding at a gait between a trot and a gallop
From this reading They had been cantering along at an easy pace, and gave no indications of having been frightened.
catchingnounUS /ˈkætʃɪŋ/
(baseball) playing the position of catcher on a baseball team
From this reading A DOUBTFUL CLUE PIET VAN DER WYCK had no difficulty in catching one of the masterless steeds while the Haussa secured the other.
CLUEnounUS /kluː/
a slight indication
From this reading A DOUBTFUL CLUE PIET VAN DER WYCK had no difficulty in catching one of the masterless steeds while the Haussa secured the other.
DER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A DOUBTFUL CLUE PIET VAN DER WYCK had no difficulty in catching one of the masterless steeds while the Haussa secured the other.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading A DOUBTFUL CLUE PIET VAN DER WYCK had no difficulty in catching one of the masterless steeds while the Haussa secured the other.
dismounted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Perhaps," suggested Van der Wyck, "they dismounted and forgot to tether the animals."
distressedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstrest/
facing or experiencing financial trouble or difficulty
From this reading The animals seemed hardly distressed.
DOUBTFULadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊtfəl/
open to doubt or suspicion
From this reading A DOUBTFUL CLUE PIET VAN DER WYCK had no difficulty in catching one of the masterless steeds while the Haussa secured the other.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading They had been cantering along at an easy pace, and gave no indications of having been frightened.
inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading "Perhaps," suggested Van der Wyck, "they dismounted and forgot to tether the animals."
made afraid
From this reading They had been cantering along at an easy pace, and gave no indications of having been frightened.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading They had been cantering along at an easy pace, and gave no indications of having been frightened.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Bridle, saddle, and stirrups were in place; there was nothing to give a clue to what had befallen the riders.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A DOUBTFUL CLUE PIET VAN DER WYCK had no difficulty in catching one of the masterless steeds while the Haussa secured the other.
only a very short time before
From this reading The animals seemed hardly distressed.
Haussanoun
a member of a Negroid people living chiefly in northern Nigeria
From this reading A DOUBTFUL CLUE PIET VAN DER WYCK had no difficulty in catching one of the masterless steeds while the Haussa secured the other.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading They had been cantering along at an easy pace, and gave no indications of having been frightened.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A DOUBTFUL CLUE PIET VAN DER WYCK had no difficulty in catching one of the masterless steeds while the Haussa secured the other.
indicationsnounUS /ˌɪndəˈkeɪʃənz/
plural of “indication” — something that serves to indicate or suggest
From this reading They had been cantering along at an easy pace, and gave no indications of having been frightened.
masterlessadjective
having no lord or master
From this reading A DOUBTFUL CLUE PIET VAN DER WYCK had no difficulty in catching one of the masterless steeds while the Haussa secured the other.
not any; not one
From this reading A DOUBTFUL CLUE PIET VAN DER WYCK had no difficulty in catching one of the masterless steeds while the Haussa secured the other.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Bridle, saddle, and stirrups were in place; there was nothing to give a clue to what had befallen the riders.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A DOUBTFUL CLUE PIET VAN DER WYCK had no difficulty in catching one of the masterless steeds while the Haussa secured the other.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A DOUBTFUL CLUE PIET VAN DER WYCK had no difficulty in catching one of the masterless steeds while the Haussa secured the other.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading A DOUBTFUL CLUE PIET VAN DER WYCK had no difficulty in catching one of the masterless steeds while the Haussa secured the other.
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading They had been cantering along at an easy pace, and gave no indications of having been frightened.
by chance
From this reading "Perhaps," suggested Van der Wyck, "they dismounted and forgot to tether the animals."
PIET
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A DOUBTFUL CLUE PIET VAN DER WYCK had no difficulty in catching one of the masterless steeds while the Haussa secured the other.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Bridle, saddle, and stirrups were in place; there was nothing to give a clue to what had befallen the riders.
ridersnounUS /ˈraɪdərz/
plural of “rider” — a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)
From this reading Bridle, saddle, and stirrups were in place; there was nothing to give a clue to what had befallen the riders.
put a saddle on
From this reading Bridle, saddle, and stirrups were in place; there was nothing to give a clue to what had befallen the riders.
past form of “secure” — get by special effort
From this reading A DOUBTFUL CLUE PIET VAN DER WYCK had no difficulty in catching one of the masterless steeds while the Haussa secured the other.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The animals seemed hardly distressed.
steedsnounUS /stiːdz/
plural of “steed” — (literary) a spirited horse for state of war
From this reading A DOUBTFUL CLUE PIET VAN DER WYCK had no difficulty in catching one of the masterless steeds while the Haussa secured the other.
stirrupsnounUS /ˈstɜːrəps/
plural of “stirrup” — support consisting of metal loops into which rider's feet go
From this reading Bridle, saddle, and stirrups were in place; there was nothing to give a clue to what had befallen the riders.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading "Perhaps," suggested Van der Wyck, "they dismounted and forgot to tether the animals."
tetherverbUS /ˈteðər/
tie with a tether
From this reading "Perhaps," suggested Van der Wyck, "they dismounted and forgot to tether the animals."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A DOUBTFUL CLUE PIET VAN DER WYCK had no difficulty in catching one of the masterless steeds while the Haussa secured the other.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Bridle, saddle, and stirrups were in place; there was nothing to give a clue to what had befallen the riders.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had been cantering along at an easy pace, and gave no indications of having been frightened.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Bridle, saddle, and stirrups were in place; there was nothing to give a clue to what had befallen the riders.
any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)
From this reading A DOUBTFUL CLUE PIET VAN DER WYCK had no difficulty in catching one of the masterless steeds while the Haussa secured the other.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Bridle, saddle, and stirrups were in place; there was nothing to give a clue to what had befallen the riders.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Bridle, saddle, and stirrups were in place; there was nothing to give a clue to what had befallen the riders.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Bridle, saddle, and stirrups were in place; there was nothing to give a clue to what had befallen the riders.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading A DOUBTFUL CLUE PIET VAN DER WYCK had no difficulty in catching one of the masterless steeds while the Haussa secured the other.
WYCK
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A DOUBTFUL CLUE PIET VAN DER WYCK had no difficulty in catching one of the masterless steeds while the Haussa secured the other.
