used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Late that same afternoon the three boy travelers found themselves riding amidst a perfect forest of stiff–armed yucca plants.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading He was supposed to have been driven to the solitudes of the yucca desert by some unfortunate love affair, but of this he never talked, and all concerning his former life was merely rumor.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Late that same afternoon the three boy travelers found themselves riding amidst a perfect forest of stiff–armed yucca plants.
(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 He was supposed to have been driven to the solitudes of the yucca desert by some unfortunate love affair, but of this he never talked, and all concerning his former life was merely rumor.
amidstprepositionUS /əˈmɪdst/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading Late that same afternoon the three boy travelers found themselves riding amidst a perfect forest of stiff–armed yucca plants.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This old man was known to the cowboys and ranchers who passed that way as Mad Mat.
(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms
From this reading Late that same afternoon the three boy travelers found themselves riding amidst a perfect forest of stiff–armed yucca plants.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This old man was known to the cowboys and ranchers who passed that way as Mad Mat.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He was supposed to have been driven to the solitudes of the yucca desert by some unfortunate love affair, but of this he never talked, and all concerning his former life was merely rumor.
a youthful male person
From this reading Late that same afternoon the three boy travelers found themselves riding amidst a perfect forest of stiff–armed yucca plants.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was supposed to have been driven to the solitudes of the yucca desert by some unfortunate love affair, but of this he never talked, and all concerning his former life was merely rumor.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He was supposed to have been driven to the solitudes of the yucca desert by some unfortunate love affair, but of this he never talked, and all concerning his former life was merely rumor.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Here they came upon a small shack where lived a strange character of the Texan wilds.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading Here they came upon a small shack where lived a strange character of the Texan wilds.
-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to
From this reading He was supposed to have been driven to the solitudes of the yucca desert by some unfortunate love affair, but of this he never talked, and all concerning his former life was merely rumor.
cowboysnounUS /ˈkaʊbɔɪz/
plural of “cowboy” — a hired hand who tends cattle and performs other duties on horseback
From this reading This old man was known to the cowboys and ranchers who passed that way as Mad Mat.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading He was supposed to have been driven to the solitudes of the yucca desert by some unfortunate love affair, but of this he never talked, and all concerning his former life was merely rumor.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading He was supposed to have been driven to the solitudes of the yucca desert by some unfortunate love affair, but of this he never talked, and all concerning his former life was merely rumor.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading Late that same afternoon the three boy travelers found themselves riding amidst a perfect forest of stiff–armed yucca plants.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading He was supposed to have been driven to the solitudes of the yucca desert by some unfortunate love affair, but of this he never talked, and all concerning his former life was merely rumor.
set up or found
From this reading Late that same afternoon the three boy travelers found themselves riding amidst a perfect forest of stiff–armed yucca plants.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He was supposed to have been driven to the solitudes of the yucca desert by some unfortunate love affair, but of this he never talked, and all concerning his former life was merely rumor.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was supposed to have been driven to the solitudes of the yucca desert by some unfortunate love affair, but of this he never talked, and all concerning his former life was merely rumor.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here they came upon a small shack where lived a strange character of the Texan wilds.
HERMITnounUS /ˈhɜːrmət/
one retired from society for religious reasons
From this reading THE HERMIT OF THE YUCCA.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was supposed to have been driven to the solitudes of the yucca desert by some unfortunate love affair, but of this he never talked, and all concerning his former life was merely rumor.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading This old man was known to the cowboys and ranchers who passed that way as Mad Mat.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading Late that same afternoon the three boy travelers found themselves riding amidst a perfect forest of stiff–armed yucca plants.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He was supposed to have been driven to the solitudes of the yucca desert by some unfortunate love affair, but of this he never talked, and all concerning his former life was merely rumor.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading Here they came upon a small shack where lived a strange character of the Texan wilds.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading He was supposed to have been driven to the solitudes of the yucca desert by some unfortunate love affair, but of this he never talked, and all concerning his former life was merely rumor.
roused to anger
From this reading This old man was known to the cowboys and ranchers who passed that way as Mad Mat.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading This old man was known to the cowboys and ranchers who passed that way as Mad Mat.
MatnounUS /mæt/
a thick flat pad used as a floor covering
From this reading This old man was known to the cowboys and ranchers who passed that way as Mad Mat.
and nothing more
From this reading He was supposed to have been driven to the solitudes of the yucca desert by some unfortunate love affair, but of this he never talked, and all concerning his former life was merely rumor.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He was supposed to have been driven to the solitudes of the yucca desert by some unfortunate love affair, but of this he never talked, and all concerning his former life was merely rumor.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE HERMIT OF THE YUCCA.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading This old man was known to the cowboys and ranchers who passed that way as Mad Mat.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading This old man was known to the cowboys and ranchers who passed that way as Mad Mat.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading Late that same afternoon the three boy travelers found themselves riding amidst a perfect forest of stiff–armed yucca plants.
plantsnounUS /plænts/
plural of “plant” — buildings for carrying on industrial labor
From this reading Late that same afternoon the three boy travelers found themselves riding amidst a perfect forest of stiff–armed yucca plants.
ranchersnounUS /ˈræntʃərz/
plural of “rancher” — a person who owns or operates a ranch
From this reading This old man was known to the cowboys and ranchers who passed that way as Mad Mat.
the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements
From this reading Late that same afternoon the three boy travelers found themselves riding amidst a perfect forest of stiff–armed yucca plants.
rumornounUS /ˈruːmər/
gossip (usually a mixture of truth and untruth) passed around by word of mouth
From this reading He was supposed to have been driven to the solitudes of the yucca desert by some unfortunate love affair, but of this he never talked, and all concerning his former life was merely rumor.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Late that same afternoon the three boy travelers found themselves riding amidst a perfect forest of stiff–armed yucca plants.
shacknounUS /ʃæk/
small crude shelter used as a dwelling
From this reading Here they came upon a small shack where lived a strange character of the Texan wilds.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Here they came upon a small shack where lived a strange character of the Texan wilds.
solitudes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was supposed to have been driven to the solitudes of the yucca desert by some unfortunate love affair, but of this he never talked, and all concerning his former life was merely rumor.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He was supposed to have been driven to the solitudes of the yucca desert by some unfortunate love affair, but of this he never talked, and all concerning his former life was merely rumor.
not moving or operating freely
From this reading Late that same afternoon the three boy travelers found themselves riding amidst a perfect forest of stiff–armed yucca plants.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Here they came upon a small shack where lived a strange character of the Texan wilds.
required or under orders
From this reading He was supposed to have been driven to the solitudes of the yucca desert by some unfortunate love affair, but of this he never talked, and all concerning his former life was merely rumor.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading He was supposed to have been driven to the solitudes of the yucca desert by some unfortunate love affair, but of this he never talked, and all concerning his former life was merely rumor.
TexannounUS /ˈteksən/
a native or resident of Texas
From this reading Here they came upon a small shack where lived a strange character of the Texan wilds.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Late that same afternoon the three boy travelers found themselves riding amidst a perfect forest of stiff–armed yucca plants.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HERMIT OF THE YUCCA.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Late that same afternoon the three boy travelers found themselves riding amidst a perfect forest of stiff–armed yucca plants.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Here they came upon a small shack where lived a strange character of the Texan wilds.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This old man was known to the cowboys and ranchers who passed that way as Mad Mat.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Late that same afternoon the three boy travelers found themselves riding amidst a perfect forest of stiff–armed yucca plants.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This old man was known to the cowboys and ranchers who passed that way as Mad Mat.
travelersnounUS /ˈtrævələrz/
plural of “traveler” — a person who changes location
From this reading Late that same afternoon the three boy travelers found themselves riding amidst a perfect forest of stiff–armed yucca plants.
not favored by fortune; marked or accompanied by or resulting in ill fortune
From this reading He was supposed to have been driven to the solitudes of the yucca desert by some unfortunate love affair, but of this he never talked, and all concerning his former life was merely rumor.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Here they came upon a small shack where lived a strange character of the Texan wilds.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This old man was known to the cowboys and ranchers who passed that way as Mad Mat.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading This old man was known to the cowboys and ranchers who passed that way as Mad Mat.
in or at the place that
From this reading Here they came upon a small shack where lived a strange character of the Texan wilds.
which person or people
From this reading This old man was known to the cowboys and ranchers who passed that way as Mad Mat.
wildsnounUS /waɪldz/
plural of “wild” — a wild primitive state untouched by civilization
From this reading Here they came upon a small shack where lived a strange character of the Texan wilds.
YUCCAnounUS /ˈjʌkə/
any of several evergreen plants of the genus Yucca having usually tall stout stems and a terminal cluster of white flowers; warmer regions of North America
From this reading THE HERMIT OF THE YUCCA.
