Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

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

From this reading He held the gun close under his red nose and sniffed for the smell of oil that would betray a fresh cleaning.

(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 "All right, far as you've gone," he said casually, when the sheriff was replacing the cylinder in the gun.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

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

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

the formal act of approving

From this reading And Starr watched him interestedly, smiling approval.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading "All right, far as you've gone," he said casually, when the sheriff was replacing the cylinder in the gun.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

a tube through which a bullet travels when a gun is fired

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

reveal unintentionally

From this reading He held the gun close under his red nose and sniffed for the smell of oil that would betray a fresh cleaning.

cause to be bored

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

not methodically or according to plan

From this reading "All right, far as you've gone," he said casually, when the sheriff was replacing the cylinder in the gun.

English architect (1723-1796)

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

the act of making something clean

From this reading He held the gun close under his red nose and sniffed for the smell of oil that would betray a fresh cleaning.

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

From this reading He held the gun close under his red nose and sniffed for the smell of oil that would betray a fresh cleaning.

in accordance with convention or custom

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

a solid bounded by a cylindrical surface and two parallel planes (the bases)

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

remove the dust from

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

make void or empty of contents

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading "All right, far as you've gone," he said casually, when the sheriff was replacing the cylinder in the gun.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He held the gun close under his red nose and sniffed for the smell of oil that would betray a fresh cleaning.

recently made, produced, or harvested

From this reading He held the gun close under his red nose and sniffed for the smell of oil that would betray a fresh cleaning.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

destroyed or killed

From this reading "All right, far as you've gone," he said casually, when the sheriff was replacing the cylinder in the gun.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

the part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

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

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading He held the gun close under his red nose and sniffed for the smell of oil that would betray a fresh cleaning.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

either side of the body below the waist and above the thigh

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

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

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

a sheath (usually leather) for carrying a handgun

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

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

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

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

From this reading And Starr watched him interestedly, smiling approval.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

past form of “jerk” — pull, or move with a sudden movement

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

filled with a great quantity

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

past form of “lodge” — be a lodger; stay temporarily

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

plural of “move” — the act of deciding to do something

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

the open circular discharging end of a gun

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals

From this reading He held the gun close under his red nose and sniffed for the smell of oil that would betray a fresh cleaning.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.

From this reading He held the gun close under his red nose and sniffed for the smell of oil that would betray a fresh cleaning.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

plural of “particle” — (nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

to hold fast or prevent from moving

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading He held the gun close under his red nose and sniffed for the smell of oil that would betray a fresh cleaning.

past form of “release” — release, as from one's grip

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

the act of furnishing an equivalent person or thing in the place of another

From this reading "All right, far as you've gone," he said casually, when the sheriff was replacing the cylinder in the gun.

precisely, exactly

From this reading "All right, far as you've gone," he said casually, when the sheriff was replacing the cylinder in the gun.

advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "All right, far as you've gone," he said casually, when the sheriff was replacing the cylinder in the gun.

except for; apart from

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

the principal law-enforcement officer in a county

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form

From this reading He held the gun close under his red nose and sniffed for the smell of oil that would betray a fresh cleaning.

a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement

From this reading And Starr watched him interestedly, smiling approval.

past form of “sniff” — perceive by inhaling through the nose

From this reading He held the gun close under his red nose and sniffed for the smell of oil that would betray a fresh cleaning.

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

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

rock star and drummer for the Beatles (born in 1940)

From this reading And Starr watched him interestedly, smiling approval.

possessive form of “starr” — rock star and drummer for the Beatles (born in 1940)

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

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

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

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

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

in the direction of

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

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

From this reading "All right, far as you've gone," he said casually, when the sheriff was replacing the cylinder in the gun.

past form of “watch” — look attentively

From this reading And Starr watched him interestedly, smiling approval.

at the time that

From this reading "All right, far as you've gone," he said casually, when the sheriff was replacing the cylinder in the gun.

in or at the place that

From this reading He tilted the gun, muzzle to him, toward the rising sun and squinted into its barrel that shone with the care it got, save where particles of dust had lodged in the bore.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The sheriff made one of his sudden moves, and jerked the six-shooter from its holster at Starr's hip, pulled out the cylinder pin and released the cylinder with its customary five loaded chambers and an empty one under the hammer.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading He held the gun close under his red nose and sniffed for the smell of oil that would betray a fresh cleaning.

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

From this reading "All right, far as you've gone," he said casually, when the sheriff was replacing the cylinder in the gun.