used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
accoutermentsnounUS /əˈkuːtərmənts/
plural of “accouterment” — clothing that is worn or carried, but not part of your main clothing
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN ATTEMPT AT “GETTING EVEN.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AN ATTEMPT AT “GETTING EVEN.”
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading AN ATTEMPT AT “GETTING EVEN.”
barsnounUS /bɑːrz/
gymnastic apparatus consisting of two parallel wooden rods supported on uprights
From this reading They saw a shallow, slowly flowing stream obstructed with sand bars and shallows.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
bluffnounUS /blʌf/
a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)
From this reading The boys peered curiously over the bluff on the edge of which they had halted.
bluffsnounUS /blʌfs/
plural of “bluff” — a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)
From this reading On the brink of the stream, which at that point flowed between steep bluffs of a reddish hue, they drew rein.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boys peered curiously over the bluff on the edge of which they had halted.
brinknounUS /brɪŋk/
a region marking a boundary
From this reading On the brink of the stream, which at that point flowed between steep bluffs of a reddish hue, they drew rein.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
cactusnounUS /ˈkæktəs/
any succulent plant of the family Cactaceae native chiefly to arid regions of the New World and usually having spines
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading The boys peered curiously over the bluff on the edge of which they had halted.
having gaps or spaces
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading On the brink of the stream, which at that point flowed between steep bluffs of a reddish hue, they drew rein.
remove the dust from
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading The boys peered curiously over the bluff on the edge of which they had halted.
divisible by two
From this reading AN ATTEMPT AT “GETTING EVEN.”
expansenounUS /ɪkˈspæns/
a wide scope
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
flowedverbUS /floʊd/
past form of “flow” — move or progress freely as if in a stream
From this reading On the brink of the stream, which at that point flowed between steep bluffs of a reddish hue, they drew rein.
flowingnounUS /ˈfloʊɪŋ/
the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
From this reading They saw a shallow, slowly flowing stream obstructed with sand bars and shallows.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
gallantlyadverbUS /ˈɡæləntli/
in a gallant manner
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading AN ATTEMPT AT “GETTING EVEN.”
Grande
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The boys peered curiously over the bluff on the edge of which they had halted.
past form of “halt” — cause to stop
From this reading The boys peered curiously over the bluff on the edge of which they had halted.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
huenounUS /hjuː/
the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
From this reading On the brink of the stream, which at that point flowed between steep bluffs of a reddish hue, they drew rein.
inseparableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsepərəbəl/
not capable of being separated
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
Mercedes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
mesquitenounUS /ˈmeskiːt/
any of several small spiny trees or shrubs of the genus Prosopis having small flowers in axillary cylindrical spikes followed by large pods rich in sugar
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
obstructedadjectiveUS /əbˈstrʌktɪd/
shut off to passage or view or hindered from action
From this reading They saw a shallow, slowly flowing stream obstructed with sand bars and shallows.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the brink of the stream, which at that point flowed between steep bluffs of a reddish hue, they drew rein.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The boys peered curiously over the bluff on the edge of which they had halted.
overshadowedverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈʃædoʊd/
past form of “overshadow” — be greater in significance than
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
pallverbUS /pɑːl/
become less interesting or attractive
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading The boys peered curiously over the bluff on the edge of which they had halted.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading On the brink of the stream, which at that point flowed between steep bluffs of a reddish hue, they drew rein.
RangersnounUS /ˈreɪndʒərz/
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 Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
on the contrary
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
reddishadjectiveUS /ˈredɪʃ/
of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies
From this reading On the brink of the stream, which at that point flowed between steep bluffs of a reddish hue, they drew rein.
reinverbUS /reɪn/
control and direct with or as if by reins
From this reading On the brink of the stream, which at that point flowed between steep bluffs of a reddish hue, they drew rein.
RionounUS /ˈriːoʊ/
the former capital and 2nd largest city of Brazil; chief Brazilian port; famous as a tourist attraction
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
San
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading They saw a shallow, slowly flowing stream obstructed with sand bars and shallows.
cut with a saw
From this reading They saw a shallow, slowly flowing stream obstructed with sand bars and shallows.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
shallowadjectiveUS /ˈʃæloʊ/
lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center
From this reading They saw a shallow, slowly flowing stream obstructed with sand bars and shallows.
shallows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They saw a shallow, slowly flowing stream obstructed with sand bars and shallows.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading They saw a shallow, slowly flowing stream obstructed with sand bars and shallows.
having a sharp inclination
From this reading On the brink of the stream, which at that point flowed between steep bluffs of a reddish hue, they drew rein.
not in physical motion
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading On the brink of the stream, which at that point flowed between steep bluffs of a reddish hue, they drew rein.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On the brink of the stream, which at that point flowed between steep bluffs of a reddish hue, they drew rein.
thornyadjectiveUS /ˈθɔːrni/
bristling with perplexities
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading On the brink of the stream, which at that point flowed between steep bluffs of a reddish hue, they drew rein.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They saw a shallow, slowly flowing stream obstructed with sand bars and shallows.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading The Rangers, still overshadowed by that pall of yellow dust that seemed inseparable from them, and almost as much a part of themselves as their horses or accouterments, dashed gallantly out of the town and across the rather dreary expanse of mesquite and thorny cactus that lay between San Mercedes and the Rio Grande.
