Chapter V · Chapter 5

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

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

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

From this reading An automobile had brought them the twenty miles of their journey, early that morning, and had left them with their belongings at the house of a farmer, with whom Spencer was evidently on the best of terms.

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

From this reading He had taken Glen into his home, had fed and provided for him and had given him some clothing.

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

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading An automobile had brought them the twenty miles of their journey, early that morning, and had left them with their belongings at the house of a farmer, with whom Spencer was evidently on the best of terms.

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

From this reading Now they stood on a knoll overlooking what seemed to Glen to be nothing but an immense field of growing corn.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

something owned; any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone

From this reading An automobile had brought them the twenty miles of their journey, early that morning, and had left them with their belongings at the house of a farmer, with whom Spencer was evidently on the best of terms.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading An automobile had brought them the twenty miles of their journey, early that morning, and had left them with their belongings at the house of a farmer, with whom Spencer was evidently on the best of terms.

a statute in draft before it becomes law

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading An automobile had brought them the twenty miles of their journey, early that morning, and had left them with their belongings at the house of a farmer, with whom Spencer was evidently on the best of terms.

large shaggy-haired brown bison of North American plains

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Now they stood on a knoll overlooking what seemed to Glen to be nothing but an immense field of growing corn.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

plural of “citizen” — a native or naturalized member of a state or other political community

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

a covering designed to be worn on a person's body

From this reading He had taken Glen into his home, had fed and provided for him and had given him some clothing.

tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears: widely cultivated in America in many varieties; the principal cereal in Mexico and Central and South America since pre-Columbian times

From this reading Now they stood on a knoll overlooking what seemed to Glen to be nothing but an immense field of growing corn.

a pair who associate with one another

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading An automobile had brought them the twenty miles of their journey, early that morning, and had left them with their belongings at the house of a farmer, with whom Spencer was evidently on the best of terms.

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading An automobile had brought them the twenty miles of their journey, early that morning, and had left them with their belongings at the house of a farmer, with whom Spencer was evidently on the best of terms.

past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

a person who operates a farm

From this reading An automobile had brought them the twenty miles of their journey, early that morning, and had left them with their belongings at the house of a farmer, with whom Spencer was evidently on the best of terms.

any federal law-enforcement officer

From this reading He had taken Glen into his home, had fed and provided for him and had given him some clothing.

a boy or man

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading Now they stood on a knoll overlooking what seemed to Glen to be nothing but an immense field of growing corn.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He had taken Glen into his home, had fed and provided for him and had given him some clothing.

an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading "There is our fortune," said Spencer.

plural of “fortune” — an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading He had taken Glen into his home, had fed and provided for him and had given him some clothing.

a narrow secluded valley (in the mountains)

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level

From this reading Now they stood on a knoll overlooking what seemed to Glen to be nothing but an immense field of growing corn.

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

From this reading He had taken Glen into his home, had fed and provided for him and had given him some clothing.

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

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

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

From this reading He had taken Glen into his home, had fed and provided for him and had given him some clothing.

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

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading He had taken Glen into his home, had fed and provided for him and had given him some clothing.

past form of “hope” — expect and wish

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading An automobile had brought them the twenty miles of their journey, early that morning, and had left them with their belongings at the house of a farmer, with whom Spencer was evidently on the best of terms.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading Now they stood on a knoll overlooking what seemed to Glen to be nothing but an immense field of growing corn.

a quantity that is added

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He had taken Glen into his home, had fed and provided for him and had given him some clothing.

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

From this reading "There is our fortune," said Spencer.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

full of or showing high-spirited merriment

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

undertake a journey or trip

From this reading An automobile had brought them the twenty miles of their journey, early that morning, and had left them with their belongings at the house of a farmer, with whom Spencer was evidently on the best of terms.

a small natural hill

From this reading Now they stood on a knoll overlooking what seemed to Glen to be nothing but an immense field of growing corn.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading An automobile had brought them the twenty miles of their journey, early that morning, and had left them with their belongings at the house of a farmer, with whom Spencer was evidently on the best of terms.

a way of doing something, especially a systematic way; implies an orderly logical arrangement (usually in steps)

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading An automobile had brought them the twenty miles of their journey, early that morning, and had left them with their belongings at the house of a farmer, with whom Spencer was evidently on the best of terms.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading An automobile had brought them the twenty miles of their journey, early that morning, and had left them with their belongings at the house of a farmer, with whom Spencer was evidently on the best of terms.

a form of address for a man

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Now they stood on a knoll overlooking what seemed to Glen to be nothing but an immense field of growing corn.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Now they stood on a knoll overlooking what seemed to Glen to be nothing but an immense field of growing corn.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading An automobile had brought them the twenty miles of their journey, early that morning, and had left them with their belongings at the house of a farmer, with whom Spencer was evidently on the best of terms.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading "There is our fortune," said Spencer.

used of a height or viewpoint

From this reading Now they stood on a knoll overlooking what seemed to Glen to be nothing but an immense field of growing corn.

past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to

From this reading He had taken Glen into his home, had fed and provided for him and had given him some clothing.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "There is our fortune," said Spencer.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Now they stood on a knoll overlooking what seemed to Glen to be nothing but an immense field of growing corn.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading He had taken Glen into his home, had fed and provided for him and had given him some clothing.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

English philosopher and sociologist who applied the theory of natural selection to human societies (1820-1903)

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Now they stood on a knoll overlooking what seemed to Glen to be nothing but an immense field of growing corn.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading He had taken Glen into his home, had fed and provided for him and had given him some clothing.

status with respect to the relations between people or groups

From this reading An automobile had brought them the twenty miles of their journey, early that morning, and had left them with their belongings at the house of a farmer, with whom Spencer was evidently on the best of terms.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading An automobile had brought them the twenty miles of their journey, early that morning, and had left them with their belongings at the house of a farmer, with whom Spencer was evidently on the best of terms.

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

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading An automobile had brought them the twenty miles of their journey, early that morning, and had left them with their belongings at the house of a farmer, with whom Spencer was evidently on the best of terms.

in or at that place or location

From this reading "There is our fortune," said Spencer.

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

From this reading Now they stood on a knoll overlooking what seemed to Glen to be nothing but an immense field of growing corn.

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

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

dangerously unstable and unpredictable

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading An automobile had brought them the twenty miles of their journey, early that morning, and had left them with their belongings at the house of a farmer, with whom Spencer was evidently on the best of terms.

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

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Now they stood on a knoll overlooking what seemed to Glen to be nothing but an immense field of growing corn.

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

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading An automobile had brought them the twenty miles of their journey, early that morning, and had left them with their belongings at the house of a farmer, with whom Spencer was evidently on the best of terms.

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

From this reading TREACHEROUS INDIANS AT BUFFALO LAKE It was a couple of days later before Mr. William Spencer (sometimes known to his fellow citizens as Jolly Bill) fully explained to Glen the method by which he hoped to increase their fortunes.

in the company of; together with

From this reading An automobile had brought them the twenty miles of their journey, early that morning, and had left them with their belongings at the house of a farmer, with whom Spencer was evidently on the best of terms.