Chapter XVI

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

From this reading A BORDER BOY ERRANT.

the performance of a part or role in a drama

From this reading Instead, his sudden fall to one side of the saddle was a quick acting out of an old cowboy trick.

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

From this reading Instead, his sudden fall to one side of the saddle was a quick acting out of an old cowboy trick.

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

From this reading The instant that the first bullet had whistled by his ear Jack had flung himself down thus, and as a consequence, the shots had missed their mark.

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

From this reading The instant that the first bullet had whistled by his ear Jack had flung himself down thus, and as a consequence, the shots had missed their mark.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The relief of Walt and Ralph, as they came elbowing through the crowd to find that their chum was unhurt, may be imagined.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading But the bullets which had been meant to terminate Jack’s career had not found their “billet.”

a short personal letter

From this reading But the bullets which had been meant to terminate Jack’s career had not found their “billet.”

a line that indicates a boundary

From this reading A BORDER BOY ERRANT.

a youthful male person

From this reading A BORDER BOY ERRANT.

a projectile that is fired from a gun

From this reading The instant that the first bullet had whistled by his ear Jack had flung himself down thus, and as a consequence, the shots had missed their mark.

plural of “bullet” — a projectile that is fired from a gun

From this reading But the bullets which had been meant to terminate Jack’s career had not found their “billet.”

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the bullets which had been meant to terminate Jack’s career had not found their “billet.”

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The instant that the first bullet had whistled by his ear Jack had flung himself down thus, and as a consequence, the shots had missed their mark.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading The relief of Walt and Ralph, as they came elbowing through the crowd to find that their chum was unhurt, may be imagined.

the particular occupation for which you are trained

From this reading But the bullets which had been meant to terminate Jack’s career had not found their “billet.”

a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities

From this reading The relief of Walt and Ralph, as they came elbowing through the crowd to find that their chum was unhurt, may be imagined.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading The instant that the first bullet had whistled by his ear Jack had flung himself down thus, and as a consequence, the shots had missed their mark.

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

From this reading Instead, his sudden fall to one side of the saddle was a quick acting out of an old cowboy trick.

cause to herd, drive, or crowd together

From this reading The relief of Walt and Ralph, as they came elbowing through the crowd to find that their chum was unhurt, may be imagined.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The instant that the first bullet had whistled by his ear Jack had flung himself down thus, and as a consequence, the shots had missed their mark.

the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading The instant that the first bullet had whistled by his ear Jack had flung himself down thus, and as a consequence, the shots had missed their mark.

jostling with the elbows

From this reading The relief of Walt and Ralph, as they came elbowing through the crowd to find that their chum was unhurt, may be imagined.

straying from the right course or from accepted standards

From this reading A BORDER BOY ERRANT.

descend in free fall under the influence of gravity

From this reading Instead, his sudden fall to one side of the saddle was a quick acting out of an old cowboy trick.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading The relief of Walt and Ralph, as they came elbowing through the crowd to find that their chum was unhurt, may be imagined.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading The instant that the first bullet had whistled by his ear Jack had flung himself down thus, and as a consequence, the shots had missed their mark.

inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness

From this reading The instant that the first bullet had whistled by his ear Jack had flung himself down thus, and as a consequence, the shots had missed their mark.

set up or found

From this reading But the bullets which had been meant to terminate Jack’s career had not found their “billet.”

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

From this reading But the bullets which had been meant to terminate Jack’s career had not found their “billet.”

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading The instant that the first bullet had whistled by his ear Jack had flung himself down thus, and as a consequence, the shots had missed their mark.

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

From this reading Instead, his sudden fall to one side of the saddle was a quick acting out of an old cowboy trick.

past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case

From this reading The relief of Walt and Ralph, as they came elbowing through the crowd to find that their chum was unhurt, may be imagined.

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

From this reading The instant that the first bullet had whistled by his ear Jack had flung himself down thus, and as a consequence, the shots had missed their mark.

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading Instead, his sudden fall to one side of the saddle was a quick acting out of an old cowboy trick.

a small worthless amount

From this reading The instant that the first bullet had whistled by his ear Jack had flung himself down thus, and as a consequence, the shots had missed their mark.

possessive form of “jack” — a small worthless amount

From this reading But the bullets which had been meant to terminate Jack’s career had not found their “billet.”

attach a tag or label to

From this reading The instant that the first bullet had whistled by his ear Jack had flung himself down thus, and as a consequence, the shots had missed their mark.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading The relief of Walt and Ralph, as they came elbowing through the crowd to find that their chum was unhurt, may be imagined.

inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading But the bullets which had been meant to terminate Jack’s career had not found their “billet.”

not caught with the senses or the mind

From this reading The instant that the first bullet had whistled by his ear Jack had flung himself down thus, and as a consequence, the shots had missed their mark.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But the bullets which had been meant to terminate Jack’s career had not found their “billet.”

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Instead, his sudden fall to one side of the saddle was a quick acting out of an old cowboy trick.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Instead, his sudden fall to one side of the saddle was a quick acting out of an old cowboy trick.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Instead, his sudden fall to one side of the saddle was a quick acting out of an old cowboy trick.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Instead, his sudden fall to one side of the saddle was a quick acting out of an old cowboy trick.

accomplished rapidly and without delay

From this reading Instead, his sudden fall to one side of the saddle was a quick acting out of an old cowboy trick.

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

From this reading The relief of Walt and Ralph, as they came elbowing through the crowd to find that their chum was unhurt, may be imagined.

the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced

From this reading The relief of Walt and Ralph, as they came elbowing through the crowd to find that their chum was unhurt, may be imagined.

put a saddle on

From this reading Instead, his sudden fall to one side of the saddle was a quick acting out of an old cowboy trick.

plural of “shot” — the act of firing a projectile

From this reading The instant that the first bullet had whistled by his ear Jack had flung himself down thus, and as a consequence, the shots had missed their mark.

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

From this reading Instead, his sudden fall to one side of the saddle was a quick acting out of an old cowboy trick.

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading Instead, his sudden fall to one side of the saddle was a quick acting out of an old cowboy trick.

bring to an end or halt

From this reading But the bullets which had been meant to terminate Jack’s career had not found their “billet.”

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The instant that the first bullet had whistled by his ear Jack had flung himself down thus, and as a consequence, the shots had missed their mark.

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

From this reading But the bullets which had been meant to terminate Jack’s career had not found their “billet.”

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading But the bullets which had been meant to terminate Jack’s career had not found their “billet.”

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

From this reading The relief of Walt and Ralph, as they came elbowing through the crowd to find that their chum was unhurt, may be imagined.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading The relief of Walt and Ralph, as they came elbowing through the crowd to find that their chum was unhurt, may be imagined.

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading The instant that the first bullet had whistled by his ear Jack had flung himself down thus, and as a consequence, the shots had missed their mark.

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

From this reading But the bullets which had been meant to terminate Jack’s career had not found their “billet.”

a cunning or deceitful action or device

From this reading Instead, his sudden fall to one side of the saddle was a quick acting out of an old cowboy trick.

not injured or harmed

From this reading The relief of Walt and Ralph, as they came elbowing through the crowd to find that their chum was unhurt, may be imagined.

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

From this reading The relief of Walt and Ralph, as they came elbowing through the crowd to find that their chum was unhurt, may be imagined.

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

From this reading Instead, his sudden fall to one side of the saddle was a quick acting out of an old cowboy trick.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading But the bullets which had been meant to terminate Jack’s career had not found their “billet.”

past form of “whistle” — make whistling sounds

From this reading The instant that the first bullet had whistled by his ear Jack had flung himself down thus, and as a consequence, the shots had missed their mark.