Chapter XXV · Chapter 25

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading IN THE DARK It was a pitch black night, the stars hidden by dense drifting clouds, and intensely still.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

a narrow street with walls on both sides

From this reading When at last the twinkling lights of Dead Man's Alley winked at them Comstock struck a match and looked at his watch.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading IN THE DARK It was a pitch black night, the stars hidden by dense drifting clouds, and intensely still.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading When at last the twinkling lights of Dead Man's Alley winked at them Comstock struck a match and looked at his watch.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading They rode slowly until they turned into the level county road and then swifter that they might come into Hill's Corners before it was midnight.

a short stout club used primarily by policemen

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading IN THE DARK It was a pitch black night, the stars hidden by dense drifting clouds, and intensely still.

to strive with determination

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading IN THE DARK It was a pitch black night, the stars hidden by dense drifting clouds, and intensely still.

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible

From this reading IN THE DARK It was a pitch black night, the stars hidden by dense drifting clouds, and intensely still.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading They rode slowly until they turned into the level county road and then swifter that they might come into Hill's Corners before it was midnight.

United States reformer who led moral crusades against art and literature that he considered obscene (1844-1915)

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area

From this reading They rode slowly until they turned into the level county road and then swifter that they might come into Hill's Corners before it was midnight.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

(United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government

From this reading They rode slowly until they turned into the level county road and then swifter that they might come into Hill's Corners before it was midnight.

a hired hand who tends cattle and performs other duties on horseback

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading IN THE DARK It was a pitch black night, the stars hidden by dense drifting clouds, and intensely still.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading When at last the twinkling lights of Dead Man's Alley winked at them Comstock struck a match and looked at his watch.

permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter

From this reading IN THE DARK It was a pitch black night, the stars hidden by dense drifting clouds, and intensely still.

aimless wandering from place to place

From this reading IN THE DARK It was a pitch black night, the stars hidden by dense drifting clouds, and intensely still.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one

From this reading "Fifteen minutes of twelve," he said.

the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

not accessible to view

From this reading IN THE DARK It was a pitch black night, the stars hidden by dense drifting clouds, and intensely still.

possessive form of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading They rode slowly until they turned into the level county road and then swifter that they might come into Hill's Corners before it was midnight.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading IN THE DARK It was a pitch black night, the stars hidden by dense drifting clouds, and intensely still.

to a high degree; extremely; in high concentration or density

From this reading IN THE DARK It was a pitch black night, the stars hidden by dense drifting clouds, and intensely still.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading They rode slowly until they turned into the level county road and then swifter that they might come into Hill's Corners before it was midnight.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading IN THE DARK It was a pitch black night, the stars hidden by dense drifting clouds, and intensely still.

immediately past

From this reading When at last the twinkling lights of Dead Man's Alley winked at them Comstock struck a match and looked at his watch.

the act of departing

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading They rode slowly until they turned into the level county road and then swifter that they might come into Hill's Corners before it was midnight.

plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation

From this reading When at last the twinkling lights of Dead Man's Alley winked at them Comstock struck a match and looked at his watch.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading When at last the twinkling lights of Dead Man's Alley winked at them Comstock struck a match and looked at his watch.

possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading When at last the twinkling lights of Dead Man's Alley winked at them Comstock struck a match and looked at his watch.

place in proper rank

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics

From this reading When at last the twinkling lights of Dead Man's Alley winked at them Comstock struck a match and looked at his watch.

12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night

From this reading They rode slowly until they turned into the level county road and then swifter that they might come into Hill's Corners before it was midnight.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading They rode slowly until they turned into the level county road and then swifter that they might come into Hill's Corners before it was midnight.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading "Fifteen minutes of twelve," he said.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading IN THE DARK It was a pitch black night, the stars hidden by dense drifting clouds, and intensely still.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

the property of sound that varies with variation in the frequency of vibration

From this reading IN THE DARK It was a pitch black night, the stars hidden by dense drifting clouds, and intensely still.

-ing form of “rein” — control and direct with or as if by reins

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading They rode slowly until they turned into the level county road and then swifter that they might come into Hill's Corners before it was midnight.

inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions

From this reading They rode slowly until they turned into the level county road and then swifter that they might come into Hill's Corners before it was midnight.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Fifteen minutes of twelve," he said.

only a very short time before

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading They rode slowly until they turned into the level county road and then swifter that they might come into Hill's Corners before it was midnight.

plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading IN THE DARK It was a pitch black night, the stars hidden by dense drifting clouds, and intensely still.

not in physical motion

From this reading IN THE DARK It was a pitch black night, the stars hidden by dense drifting clouds, and intensely still.

successive (without a break)

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading When at last the twinkling lights of Dead Man's Alley winked at them Comstock struck a match and looked at his watch.

comparative of “swift” — moving very fast

From this reading They rode slowly until they turned into the level county road and then swifter that they might come into Hill's Corners before it was midnight.

any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading IN THE DARK It was a pitch black night, the stars hidden by dense drifting clouds, and intensely still.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading When at last the twinkling lights of Dead Man's Alley winked at them Comstock struck a match and looked at his watch.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading They rode slowly until they turned into the level county road and then swifter that they might come into Hill's Corners before it was midnight.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They rode slowly until they turned into the level county road and then swifter that they might come into Hill's Corners before it was midnight.

American architect (1759-1828)

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading "Fifteen minutes of twelve," he said.

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)

From this reading When at last the twinkling lights of Dead Man's Alley winked at them Comstock struck a match and looked at his watch.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

up to a particular time

From this reading They rode slowly until they turned into the level county road and then swifter that they might come into Hill's Corners before it was midnight.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading IN THE DARK It was a pitch black night, the stars hidden by dense drifting clouds, and intensely still.

look attentively

From this reading When at last the twinkling lights of Dead Man's Alley winked at them Comstock struck a match and looked at his watch.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

at the time that

From this reading When at last the twinkling lights of Dead Man's Alley winked at them Comstock struck a match and looked at his watch.

past form of “wink” — signal by winking

From this reading When at last the twinkling lights of Dead Man's Alley winked at them Comstock struck a match and looked at his watch.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.

the words that are spoken

From this reading Buck Thornton and Two-Hand Billy Comstock, riding side by side with few words, turned straight out across the fields, the marshal reining his horse close in to that other horse he could scarcely see and leaving to the cowboy the task of finding their way.