used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading Plainly enough she understood that this was an alarm being sounded; a man dead through violence, and the bell-ringer stirring the town with it.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading But when presently he let two of the ropes slip out of his hands and began a slow, mournful tolling of the Captain alone, she shuddered a little and withdrew.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Plainly enough she understood that this was an alarm being sounded; a man dead through violence, and the bell-ringer stirring the town with it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Ignacio had spoken as one who knew, in full confidence and with finality.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading That it might be merely a case of a man wounded, even badly, did not once suggest itself to her.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading That it might be merely a case of a man wounded, even badly, did not once suggest itself to her.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading But when presently he let two of the ropes slip out of his hands and began a slow, mournful tolling of the Captain alone, she shuddered a little and withdrew.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Plainly enough she understood that this was an alarm being sounded; a man dead through violence, and the bell-ringer stirring the town with it.
bell-ringer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Plainly enough she understood that this was an alarm being sounded; a man dead through violence, and the bell-ringer stirring the town with it.
bellsnounUS /belz/
plural of “bell” — a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But when presently he let two of the ropes slip out of his hands and began a slow, mournful tolling of the Captain alone, she shuddered a little and withdrew.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading But when presently he let two of the ropes slip out of his hands and began a slow, mournful tolling of the Captain alone, she shuddered a little and withdrew.
an occurrence of something
From this reading That it might be merely a case of a man wounded, even badly, did not once suggest itself to her.
ChaveznounUS /ˈʃɑːvez/
Mexican composer of nationalistic works using themes from Indian folk music (1899-1978)
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading Ignacio had spoken as one who knew, in full confidence and with finality.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading Plainly enough she understood that this was an alarm being sounded; a man dead through violence, and the bell-ringer stirring the town with it.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading That it might be merely a case of a man wounded, even badly, did not once suggest itself to her.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Plainly enough she understood that this was an alarm being sounded; a man dead through violence, and the bell-ringer stirring the town with it.
divisible by two
From this reading That it might be merely a case of a man wounded, even badly, did not once suggest itself to her.
finalitynounUS /faɪˈnæləti/
the quality of being final or definitely settled
From this reading Ignacio had spoken as one who knew, in full confidence and with finality.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Ignacio had spoken as one who knew, in full confidence and with finality.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
a young female
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Ignacio had spoken as one who knew, in full confidence and with finality.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading But when presently he let two of the ropes slip out of his hands and began a slow, mournful tolling of the Captain alone, she shuddered a little and withdrew.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But when presently he let two of the ropes slip out of his hands and began a slow, mournful tolling of the Captain alone, she shuddered a little and withdrew.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
Ignacio
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Plainly enough she understood that this was an alarm being sounded; a man dead through violence, and the bell-ringer stirring the town with it.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading That it might be merely a case of a man wounded, even badly, did not once suggest itself to her.
jerkingnounUS /ˈdʒɜːrkɪŋ/
an abrupt spasmodic movement
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
JUAN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
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 Ignacio had spoken as one who knew, in full confidence and with finality.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading But when presently he let two of the ropes slip out of his hands and began a slow, mournful tolling of the Captain alone, she shuddered a little and withdrew.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But when presently he let two of the ropes slip out of his hands and began a slow, mournful tolling of the Captain alone, she shuddered a little and withdrew.
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 SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Plainly enough she understood that this was an alarm being sounded; a man dead through violence, and the bell-ringer stirring the town with it.
and nothing more
From this reading That it might be merely a case of a man wounded, even badly, did not once suggest itself to her.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading That it might be merely a case of a man wounded, even badly, did not once suggest itself to her.
an organization of missionaries in a foreign land sent to carry on religious work
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
mournfuladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrnfəl/
expressing sorrow
From this reading But when presently he let two of the ropes slip out of his hands and began a slow, mournful tolling of the Captain alone, she shuddered a little and withdrew.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading That it might be merely a case of a man wounded, even badly, did not once suggest itself to her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
on one occasion
From this reading That it might be merely a case of a man wounded, even badly, did not once suggest itself to her.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Ignacio had spoken as one who knew, in full confidence and with finality.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading But when presently he let two of the ropes slip out of his hands and began a slow, mournful tolling of the Captain alone, she shuddered a little and withdrew.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Plainly enough she understood that this was an alarm being sounded; a man dead through violence, and the bell-ringer stirring the town with it.
in the near future
From this reading But when presently he let two of the ropes slip out of his hands and began a slow, mournful tolling of the Captain alone, she shuddered a little and withdrew.
ropesnounUS /roʊps/
plural of “rope” — a strong line
From this reading But when presently he let two of the ropes slip out of his hands and began a slow, mournful tolling of the Captain alone, she shuddered a little and withdrew.
SAN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
seemingadjectiveUS /ˈsiːmɪŋ/
appearing as such but not necessarily so
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Plainly enough she understood that this was an alarm being sounded; a man dead through violence, and the bell-ringer stirring the town with it.
SHERIFFnounUS /ˈʃerəf/
the principal law-enforcement officer in a county
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
shudderedverbUS /ˈʃʌdərd/
past form of “shudder” — shake, as from cold
From this reading But when presently he let two of the ropes slip out of his hands and began a slow, mournful tolling of the Captain alone, she shuddered a little and withdrew.
move stealthily
From this reading But when presently he let two of the ropes slip out of his hands and began a slow, mournful tolling of the Captain alone, she shuddered a little and withdrew.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading But when presently he let two of the ropes slip out of his hands and began a slow, mournful tolling of the Captain alone, she shuddered a little and withdrew.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading Plainly enough she understood that this was an alarm being sounded; a man dead through violence, and the bell-ringer stirring the town with it.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Ignacio had spoken as one who knew, in full confidence and with finality.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading Plainly enough she understood that this was an alarm being sounded; a man dead through violence, and the bell-ringer stirring the town with it.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
suggestverbUS /səˈdʒest/
make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading That it might be merely a case of a man wounded, even badly, did not once suggest itself to her.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Plainly enough she understood that this was an alarm being sounded; a man dead through violence, and the bell-ringer stirring the town with it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Plainly enough she understood that this was an alarm being sounded; a man dead through violence, and the bell-ringer stirring the town with it.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Plainly enough she understood that this was an alarm being sounded; a man dead through violence, and the bell-ringer stirring the town with it.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
tollingverbUS /ˈtoʊlɪŋ/
-ing form of “toll” — ring slowly
From this reading But when presently he let two of the ropes slip out of his hands and began a slow, mournful tolling of the Captain alone, she shuddered a little and withdrew.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Plainly enough she understood that this was an alarm being sounded; a man dead through violence, and the bell-ringer stirring the town with it.
tuggingverbUS /ˈtʌɡɪŋ/
inflected form of “tug” — pull hard
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading But when presently he let two of the ropes slip out of his hands and began a slow, mournful tolling of the Captain alone, she shuddered a little and withdrew.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading Plainly enough she understood that this was an alarm being sounded; a man dead through violence, and the bell-ringer stirring the town with it.
an act of aggression (as one against a person who resists)
From this reading Plainly enough she understood that this was an alarm being sounded; a man dead through violence, and the bell-ringer stirring the town with it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Plainly enough she understood that this was an alarm being sounded; a man dead through violence, and the bell-ringer stirring the town with it.
look attentively
From this reading THE SHERIFF OF SAN JUAN The girl in the old Mission garden stood staring at Ignacio Chavez a long time, seeming compelled by a force greater than her own to watch him tugging and jerking at his bells.
at the time that
From this reading But when presently he let two of the ropes slip out of his hands and began a slow, mournful tolling of the Captain alone, she shuddered a little and withdrew.
which person or people
From this reading Ignacio had spoken as one who knew, in full confidence and with finality.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Plainly enough she understood that this was an alarm being sounded; a man dead through violence, and the bell-ringer stirring the town with it.
withdrewverbUS /wɪθˈdruː/
inflected form of “withdraw” — pull back or move away or backward
From this reading But when presently he let two of the ropes slip out of his hands and began a slow, mournful tolling of the Captain alone, she shuddered a little and withdrew.
people who are wounded
From this reading That it might be merely a case of a man wounded, even badly, did not once suggest itself to her.
