Chapter II

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

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

move forward, also in the metaphorical sense

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

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

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

past form of “apprise” — inform (somebody) of something

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

weapons considered collectively

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

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

From this reading The gun cracked as Shorty was yanked from his feet, but the bullet merely ploughed a little furrow in the ground.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

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

From this reading The next minute he was rolling in the dust for the second time, roped as neatly as ever he had lassoed a yearling, by the rawhide of Captain Atkinson himself.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

a projectile that is fired from a gun

From this reading The gun cracked as Shorty was yanked from his feet, but the bullet merely ploughed a little furrow in the ground.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The next minute he was rolling in the dust for the second time, roped as neatly as ever he had lassoed a yearling, by the rawhide of Captain Atkinson himself.

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

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading The next minute he was rolling in the dust for the second time, roped as neatly as ever he had lassoed a yearling, by the rawhide of Captain Atkinson himself.

used of skin roughened as a result of cold or exposure

From this reading The gun cracked as Shorty was yanked from his feet, but the bullet merely ploughed a little furrow in the ground.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

remove the dust from

From this reading The next minute he was rolling in the dust for the second time, roped as neatly as ever he had lassoed a yearling, by the rawhide of Captain Atkinson himself.

having come or been brought to a conclusion

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

at any time

From this reading The next minute he was rolling in the dust for the second time, roped as neatly as ever he had lassoed a yearling, by the rawhide of Captain Atkinson himself.

decreasing in amount or degree

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading The gun cracked as Shorty was yanked from his feet, but the bullet merely ploughed a little furrow in the ground.

feel or handle with the fingers

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The next minute he was rolling in the dust for the second time, roped as neatly as ever he had lassoed a yearling, by the rawhide of Captain Atkinson himself.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The gun cracked as Shorty was yanked from his feet, but the bullet merely ploughed a little furrow in the ground.

hollow out in the form of a furrow or groove

From this reading The gun cracked as Shorty was yanked from his feet, but the bullet merely ploughed a little furrow in the ground.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading The gun cracked as Shorty was yanked from his feet, but the bullet merely ploughed a little furrow in the ground.

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

From this reading The gun cracked as Shorty was yanked from his feet, but the bullet merely ploughed a little furrow in the ground.

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

From this reading The next minute he was rolling in the dust for the second time, roped as neatly as ever he had lassoed a yearling, by the rawhide of Captain Atkinson himself.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

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

From this reading The next minute he was rolling in the dust for the second time, roped as neatly as ever he had lassoed a yearling, by the rawhide of Captain Atkinson himself.

plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

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

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

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

From this reading The next minute he was rolling in the dust for the second time, roped as neatly as ever he had lassoed a yearling, by the rawhide of Captain Atkinson himself.

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

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

causing awareness of your shortcomings

From this reading THE HUMBLING OF SHORTY.

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

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

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

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

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

From this reading The next minute he was rolling in the dust for the second time, roped as neatly as ever he had lassoed a yearling, by the rawhide of Captain Atkinson himself.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The gun cracked as Shorty was yanked from his feet, but the bullet merely ploughed a little furrow in the ground.

move in loops

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

and nothing more

From this reading The gun cracked as Shorty was yanked from his feet, but the bullet merely ploughed a little furrow in the ground.

a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour

From this reading The next minute he was rolling in the dust for the second time, roped as neatly as ever he had lassoed a yearling, by the rawhide of Captain Atkinson himself.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

with neatness

From this reading The next minute he was rolling in the dust for the second time, roped as neatly as ever he had lassoed a yearling, by the rawhide of Captain Atkinson himself.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading The next minute he was rolling in the dust for the second time, roped as neatly as ever he had lassoed a yearling, by the rawhide of Captain Atkinson himself.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE HUMBLING OF SHORTY.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

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

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

a spotted or calico horse or pony

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

(of farmland) broken and turned over with a plow

From this reading The gun cracked as Shorty was yanked from his feet, but the bullet merely ploughed a little furrow in the ground.

a range horse of the western United States

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

compacted by ironing

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

possessive form of “ranger” — a member of the Texas state highway patrol; formerly a mounted lawman who maintained order on the frontier

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

plural of “ranger” — a member of the Texas state highway patrol; formerly a mounted lawman who maintained order on the frontier

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

untanned hide especially of cattle; cut in strips it is used for whips and ropes

From this reading The next minute he was rolling in the dust for the second time, roped as neatly as ever he had lassoed a yearling, by the rawhide of Captain Atkinson himself.

uttered with a trill

From this reading The next minute he was rolling in the dust for the second time, roped as neatly as ever he had lassoed a yearling, by the rawhide of Captain Atkinson himself.

past form of “rope” — catch with a lasso

From this reading The next minute he was rolling in the dust for the second time, roped as neatly as ever he had lassoed a yearling, by the rawhide of Captain Atkinson himself.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading The next minute he was rolling in the dust for the second time, roped as neatly as ever he had lassoed a yearling, by the rawhide of Captain Atkinson himself.

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

From this reading THE HUMBLING OF SHORTY.

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

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

encouragement in the form of cheers from spectators

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

-ing form of “snake” — move smoothly and sinuously, like a snake

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

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

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

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

From this reading THE HUMBLING OF SHORTY.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading The next minute he was rolling in the dust for the second time, roped as neatly as ever he had lassoed a yearling, by the rawhide of Captain Atkinson himself.

an event resulting in great loss and misfortune

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

put in motion or move to act

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

precisely as stated

From this reading But at the very instant that the Ranger’s finger pressed the trigger something came swishing and snaking through the air, falling in a loop about him and pinioning his arms.

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

From this reading The gun cracked as Shorty was yanked from his feet, but the bullet merely ploughed a little furrow in the ground.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

at the time that

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

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

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

which person or people

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

past form of “witness” — be a witness to

From this reading The captain, who had been in advance, as we know, had not witnessed the first part of the drama which had so nearly ended in a tragedy, but had been apprised of it when Shorty’s pinto pony had flashed by him with half a dozen shouting Rangers at its heels.

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

From this reading The gun cracked as Shorty was yanked from his feet, but the bullet merely ploughed a little furrow in the ground.

a young child

From this reading The next minute he was rolling in the dust for the second time, roped as neatly as ever he had lassoed a yearling, by the rawhide of Captain Atkinson himself.