Chapter IV · Chapter 4

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

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

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

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

lacking sufficient water or rainfall

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

-ing form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading "No," said Wilbur, looking around him, "I guess there isn't."

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

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

providing no shelter or sustenance

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

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

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

plural of “boss” — a person who exercises control over workers

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But there's not much huntin' in this part o' the country."

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

anything that covers or conceals

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading "Wa'al, son," the mountaineer replied, "I reckon I've done some kind o' huntin' for fifty years on end.

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading "Wa'al, son," the mountaineer replied, "I reckon I've done some kind o' huntin' for fifty years on end.

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five

From this reading "Wa'al, son," the mountaineer replied, "I reckon I've done some kind o' huntin' for fifty years on end.

a relatively low hill on the lower slope of a mountain

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "Wa'al, son," the mountaineer replied, "I reckon I've done some kind o' huntin' for fifty years on end.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading "No," said Wilbur, looking around him, "I guess there isn't."

plural of “gully” — deep ditch cut by running water (especially after a prolonged downpour)

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

deep ditch cut by running water (especially after a prolonged downpour)

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

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

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

past form of “heave” — utter a sound, as with obvious effort

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

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

From this reading "No," said Wilbur, looking around him, "I guess there isn't."

someone who hunts game

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

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

From this reading "Wa'al, son," the mountaineer replied, "I reckon I've done some kind o' huntin' for fifty years on end.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "Wa'al, son," the mountaineer replied, "I reckon I've done some kind o' huntin' for fifty years on end.

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

From this reading "Wa'al, son," the mountaineer replied, "I reckon I've done some kind o' huntin' for fifty years on end.

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

From this reading But there's not much huntin' in this part o' the country."

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

From this reading "No," said Wilbur, looking around him, "I guess there isn't."

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading "Wa'al, son," the mountaineer replied, "I reckon I've done some kind o' huntin' for fifty years on end.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

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

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading "No," said Wilbur, looking around him, "I guess there isn't."

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

a member of the North American Indian people formerly living in the Colorado river valley in Arizona and Nevada and California

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

someone who climbs mountains

From this reading "Wa'al, son," the mountaineer replied, "I reckon I've done some kind o' huntin' for fifty years on end.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading But there's not much huntin' in this part o' the country."

not any; not one

From this reading "No," said Wilbur, looking around him, "I guess there isn't."

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But there's not much huntin' in this part o' the country."

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading "Wa'al, son," the mountaineer replied, "I reckon I've done some kind o' huntin' for fifty years on end.

the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Wa'al, son," the mountaineer replied, "I reckon I've done some kind o' huntin' for fifty years on end.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading But there's not much huntin' in this part o' the country."

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

a member of the Texas state highway patrol; formerly a mounted lawman who maintained order on the frontier

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading "Wa'al, son," the mountaineer replied, "I reckon I've done some kind o' huntin' for fifty years on end.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading "Wa'al, son," the mountaineer replied, "I reckon I've done some kind o' huntin' for fifty years on end.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

curving and somewhat round in shape rather than jagged

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

clean with hard rubbing

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

protected from heat and light with shade or shadow

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

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

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

marked by correspondence or resemblance

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

plural of “slope” — an elevated geological formation

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

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

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

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

From this reading "Wa'al, son," the mountaineer replied, "I reckon I've done some kind o' huntin' for fifty years on end.

a male human offspring

From this reading "Wa'al, son," the mountaineer replied, "I reckon I've done some kind o' huntin' for fifty years on end.

not dense

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

disclosing unintentionally something concealed

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

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

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

in or at that place or location

From this reading "No," said Wilbur, looking around him, "I guess there isn't."

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

From this reading But there's not much huntin' in this part o' the country."

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

From this reading But there's not much huntin' in this part o' the country."

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

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

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading The road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

fight or struggle in a confused way at close quarters

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

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

From this reading "Wa'al, son," the mountaineer replied, "I reckon I've done some kind o' huntin' for fifty years on end.

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

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

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

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

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

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

in the company of; together with

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."

a late time of life

From this reading "Wa'al, son," the mountaineer replied, "I reckon I've done some kind o' huntin' for fifty years on end.

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 road ran along a little gully with a small stream shaded by scrub oak, but arising from this and similar gullies, in great rounded bosses, heaved the barren slopes, the grass already turning yellow and too sparse to cloak the red earth below.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading A TUSSLE WITH A WILD-CAT "Bob-Cat was telling me," said Wilbur, as with the Ranger he rode through the arid and silvered grayness of the Mohave desert and reached the foothill country, "that before you entered the Service you were pretty well known as a hunter."