Chapter XVI

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

From this reading It was of the usual type, an iron plate, which had been cast in a mould, so that the device--two Z letters--formed a depression in the smooth surface of the iron plate.

plural of “action” — something done (usually as opposed to something said)

From this reading QUEER ACTIONS What effect this announcement had on Dick and Bud can easily be imagined.

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

From this reading It was of the usual type, an iron plate, which had been cast in a mould, so that the device--two Z letters--formed a depression in the smooth surface of the iron plate.

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

From this reading QUEER ACTIONS What effect this announcement had on Dick and Bud can easily be imagined.

a formal public statement

From this reading QUEER ACTIONS What effect this announcement had on Dick and Bud can easily be imagined.

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

From this reading Both leaped from their saddles, as Nort had done, and gathered close to him as he held the branding iron in his hand.

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

From this reading QUEER ACTIONS What effect this announcement had on Dick and Bud can easily be imagined.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It was of the usual type, an iron plate, which had been cast in a mould, so that the device--two Z letters--formed a depression in the smooth surface of the iron plate.

the two together, not just one

From this reading Both leaped from their saddles, as Nort had done, and gathered close to him as he held the branding iron in his hand.

a name given to a product or service

From this reading On the outer edge was a circle, so that when the brand was heated, and pressed on the hide of a steer, calf or maverick it would burn the impression of a double Z inside a ring--the mark of Hank Fisher's cattle.

the act of stigmatizing

From this reading Both leaped from their saddles, as Nort had done, and gathered close to him as he held the branding iron in his hand.

a partially opened flower

From this reading QUEER ACTIONS What effect this announcement had on Dick and Bud can easily be imagined.

To consume or be consumed by fire.

From this reading On the outer edge was a circle, so that when the brand was heated, and pressed on the hide of a steer, calf or maverick it would burn the impression of a double Z inside a ring--the mark of Hank Fisher's cattle.

young of domestic cattle

From this reading On the outer edge was a circle, so that when the brand was heated, and pressed on the hide of a steer, calf or maverick it would burn the impression of a double Z inside a ring--the mark of Hank Fisher's cattle.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading QUEER ACTIONS What effect this announcement had on Dick and Bud can easily be imagined.

put or send forth

From this reading It was of the usual type, an iron plate, which had been cast in a mould, so that the device--two Z letters--formed a depression in the smooth surface of the iron plate.

domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age

From this reading On the outer edge was a circle, so that when the brand was heated, and pressed on the hide of a steer, calf or maverick it would burn the impression of a double Z inside a ring--the mark of Hank Fisher's cattle.

ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point

From this reading On the outer edge was a circle, so that when the brand was heated, and pressed on the hide of a steer, calf or maverick it would burn the impression of a double Z inside a ring--the mark of Hank Fisher's cattle.

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading Both leaped from their saddles, as Nort had done, and gathered close to him as he held the branding iron in his hand.

a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity

From this reading It was of the usual type, an iron plate, which had been cast in a mould, so that the device--two Z letters--formed a depression in the smooth surface of the iron plate.

an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose

From this reading It was of the usual type, an iron plate, which had been cast in a mould, so that the device--two Z letters--formed a depression in the smooth surface of the iron plate.

someone who is a detective

From this reading QUEER ACTIONS What effect this announcement had on Dick and Bud can easily be imagined.

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading Both leaped from their saddles, as Nort had done, and gathered close to him as he held the branding iron in his hand.

increase twofold

From this reading On the outer edge was a circle, so that when the brand was heated, and pressed on the hide of a steer, calf or maverick it would burn the impression of a double Z inside a ring--the mark of Hank Fisher's cattle.

with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)

From this reading QUEER ACTIONS What effect this announcement had on Dick and Bud can easily be imagined.

the boundary of a surface

From this reading On the outer edge was a circle, so that when the brand was heated, and pressed on the hide of a steer, calf or maverick it would burn the impression of a double Z inside a ring--the mark of Hank Fisher's cattle.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading QUEER ACTIONS What effect this announcement had on Dick and Bud can easily be imagined.

past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy

From this reading "Whew!" exclaimed Dick.

possessive form of “fisher” — someone whose occupation is catching fish

From this reading On the outer edge was a circle, so that when the brand was heated, and pressed on the hide of a steer, calf or maverick it would burn the impression of a double Z inside a ring--the mark of Hank Fisher's cattle.

having or given a form or shape

From this reading It was of the usual type, an iron plate, which had been cast in a mould, so that the device--two Z letters--formed a depression in the smooth surface of the iron plate.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Both leaped from their saddles, as Nort had done, and gathered close to him as he held the branding iron in his hand.

brought together in one place

From this reading Both leaped from their saddles, as Nort had done, and gathered close to him as he held the branding iron in his hand.

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

From this reading QUEER ACTIONS What effect this announcement had on Dick and Bud can easily be imagined.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Both leaped from their saddles, as Nort had done, and gathered close to him as he held the branding iron in his hand.

a coil of rope or wool or yarn

From this reading On the outer edge was a circle, so that when the brand was heated, and pressed on the hide of a steer, calf or maverick it would burn the impression of a double Z inside a ring--the mark of Hank Fisher's cattle.

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

From this reading Both leaped from their saddles, as Nort had done, and gathered close to him as he held the branding iron in his hand.

made warm or hot (“het” is a dialectal variant of “heated”)

From this reading On the outer edge was a circle, so that when the brand was heated, and pressed on the hide of a steer, calf or maverick it would burn the impression of a double Z inside a ring--the mark of Hank Fisher's cattle.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading Both leaped from their saddles, as Nort had done, and gathered close to him as he held the branding iron in his hand.

prevent from being seen or discovered

From this reading On the outer edge was a circle, so that when the brand was heated, and pressed on the hide of a steer, calf or maverick it would burn the impression of a double Z inside a ring--the mark of Hank Fisher's cattle.

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

From this reading Both leaped from their saddles, as Nort had done, and gathered close to him as he held the branding iron in his hand.

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

From this reading Both leaped from their saddles, as Nort had done, and gathered close to him as he held the branding iron in his hand.

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

From this reading QUEER ACTIONS What effect this announcement had on Dick and Bud can easily be imagined.

a vague idea in which some confidence is placed

From this reading On the outer edge was a circle, so that when the brand was heated, and pressed on the hide of a steer, calf or maverick it would burn the impression of a double Z inside a ring--the mark of Hank Fisher's cattle.

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

From this reading Both leaped from their saddles, as Nort had done, and gathered close to him as he held the branding iron in his hand.

relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space

From this reading On the outer edge was a circle, so that when the brand was heated, and pressed on the hide of a steer, calf or maverick it would burn the impression of a double Z inside a ring--the mark of Hank Fisher's cattle.

a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood

From this reading Both leaped from their saddles, as Nort had done, and gathered close to him as he held the branding iron in his hand.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was of the usual type, an iron plate, which had been cast in a mould, so that the device--two Z letters--formed a depression in the smooth surface of the iron plate.

past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading Both leaped from their saddles, as Nort had done, and gathered close to him as he held the branding iron in his hand.

the literary culture

From this reading It was of the usual type, an iron plate, which had been cast in a mould, so that the device--two Z letters--formed a depression in the smooth surface of the iron plate.

attach a tag or label to

From this reading On the outer edge was a circle, so that when the brand was heated, and pressed on the hide of a steer, calf or maverick it would burn the impression of a double Z inside a ring--the mark of Hank Fisher's cattle.

someone who exhibits great independence in thought and action

From this reading On the outer edge was a circle, so that when the brand was heated, and pressed on the hide of a steer, calf or maverick it would burn the impression of a double Z inside a ring--the mark of Hank Fisher's cattle.

form in clay, wax, etc

From this reading It was of the usual type, an iron plate, which had been cast in a mould, so that the device--two Z letters--formed a depression in the smooth surface of the iron plate.

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

From this reading Both leaped from their saddles, as Nort had done, and gathered close to him as he held the branding iron in his hand.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was of the usual type, an iron plate, which had been cast in a mould, so that the device--two Z letters--formed a depression in the smooth surface of the iron plate.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading QUEER ACTIONS What effect this announcement had on Dick and Bud can easily be imagined.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading On the outer edge was a circle, so that when the brand was heated, and pressed on the hide of a steer, calf or maverick it would burn the impression of a double Z inside a ring--the mark of Hank Fisher's cattle.

being on the outside or further from a center

From this reading On the outer edge was a circle, so that when the brand was heated, and pressed on the hide of a steer, calf or maverick it would burn the impression of a double Z inside a ring--the mark of Hank Fisher's cattle.

(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score

From this reading It was of the usual type, an iron plate, which had been cast in a mould, so that the device--two Z letters--formed a depression in the smooth surface of the iron plate.

compacted by ironing

From this reading On the outer edge was a circle, so that when the brand was heated, and pressed on the hide of a steer, calf or maverick it would burn the impression of a double Z inside a ring--the mark of Hank Fisher's cattle.

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading QUEER ACTIONS What effect this announcement had on Dick and Bud can easily be imagined.

sound loudly and sonorously

From this reading On the outer edge was a circle, so that when the brand was heated, and pressed on the hide of a steer, calf or maverick it would burn the impression of a double Z inside a ring--the mark of Hank Fisher's cattle.

plural of “saddle” — a seat for the rider of a horse or other animal

From this reading Both leaped from their saddles, as Nort had done, and gathered close to him as he held the branding iron in his hand.

having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities

From this reading It was of the usual type, an iron plate, which had been cast in a mould, so that the device--two Z letters--formed a depression in the smooth surface of the iron plate.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It was of the usual type, an iron plate, which had been cast in a mould, so that the device--two Z letters--formed a depression in the smooth surface of the iron plate.

direct the course; determine the direction of travelling

From this reading On the outer edge was a circle, so that when the brand was heated, and pressed on the hide of a steer, calf or maverick it would burn the impression of a double Z inside a ring--the mark of Hank Fisher's cattle.

the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary

From this reading It was of the usual type, an iron plate, which had been cast in a mould, so that the device--two Z letters--formed a depression in the smooth surface of the iron plate.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was of the usual type, an iron plate, which had been cast in a mould, so that the device--two Z letters--formed a depression in the smooth surface of the iron plate.

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

From this reading Both leaped from their saddles, as Nort had done, and gathered close to him as he held the branding iron in his hand.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Both leaped from their saddles, as Nort had done, and gathered close to him as he held the branding iron in his hand.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading QUEER ACTIONS What effect this announcement had on Dick and Bud can easily be imagined.

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

From this reading Both leaped from their saddles, as Nort had done, and gathered close to him as he held the branding iron in his hand.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading It was of the usual type, an iron plate, which had been cast in a mould, so that the device--two Z letters--formed a depression in the smooth surface of the iron plate.

a subdivision of a particular kind of thing

From this reading It was of the usual type, an iron plate, which had been cast in a mould, so that the device--two Z letters--formed a depression in the smooth surface of the iron plate.

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading It was of the usual type, an iron plate, which had been cast in a mould, so that the device--two Z letters--formed a depression in the smooth surface of the iron plate.

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

From this reading It was of the usual type, an iron plate, which had been cast in a mould, so that the device--two Z letters--formed a depression in the smooth surface of the iron plate.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading QUEER ACTIONS What effect this announcement had on Dick and Bud can easily be imagined.

at the time that

From this reading On the outer edge was a circle, so that when the brand was heated, and pressed on the hide of a steer, calf or maverick it would burn the impression of a double Z inside a ring--the mark of Hank Fisher's cattle.

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

From this reading "Whew!" exclaimed Dick.

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

From this reading It was of the usual type, an iron plate, which had been cast in a mould, so that the device--two Z letters--formed a depression in the smooth surface of the iron plate.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading On the outer edge was a circle, so that when the brand was heated, and pressed on the hide of a steer, calf or maverick it would burn the impression of a double Z inside a ring--the mark of Hank Fisher's cattle.

the ending of a series or sequence

From this reading It was of the usual type, an iron plate, which had been cast in a mould, so that the device--two Z letters--formed a depression in the smooth surface of the iron plate.