Chapter IV

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

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.

the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.

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

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.

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

From this reading Nothing could be further from the facts than this assumption, as evil-doers soon found out to their discomfort.

adopted in order to deceive

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.

a statement that is assumed to be true and from which a conclusion can be drawn

From this reading Nothing could be further from the facts than this assumption, as evil-doers soon found out to their discomfort.

sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)

From this reading When we stepped foot upon the right bank of the Missouri River we were outside the pale of civil law.

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

From this reading Nothing could be further from the facts than this assumption, as evil-doers soon found out to their discomfort.

applying to ordinary citizens as contrasted with the military

From this reading When we stepped foot upon the right bank of the Missouri River we were outside the pale of civil law.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Nothing could be further from the facts than this assumption, as evil-doers soon found out to their discomfort.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading We were within the Indian country where no organized civil government existed.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.

relying on or requiring a person or thing for support, supply, or what is needed

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.

the state of being tense and feeling pain

From this reading Nothing could be further from the facts than this assumption, as evil-doers soon found out to their discomfort.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.

ensure observance of laws and rules

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.

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

From this reading Nothing could be further from the facts than this assumption, as evil-doers soon found out to their discomfort.

past form of “exist” — have an existence, be extant

From this reading We were within the Indian country where no organized civil government existed.

plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading Nothing could be further from the facts than this assumption, as evil-doers soon found out to their discomfort.

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading When we stepped foot upon the right bank of the Missouri River we were outside the pale of civil law.

set up or found

From this reading Nothing could be further from the facts than this assumption, as evil-doers soon found out to their discomfort.

grant freedom to; free from confinement

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Nothing could be further from the facts than this assumption, as evil-doers soon found out to their discomfort.

to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)

From this reading Nothing could be further from the facts than this assumption, as evil-doers soon found out to their discomfort.

the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit

From this reading We were within the Indian country where no organized civil government existed.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.

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

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.

of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures

From this reading We were within the Indian country where no organized civil government existed.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.

the collection of rules imposed by authority

From this reading When we stepped foot upon the right bank of the Missouri River we were outside the pale of civil law.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.

a midwestern state in central United States; a border state during the American Civil War, Missouri was admitted to the Confederacy without actually seceding from the Union

From this reading When we stepped foot upon the right bank of the Missouri River we were outside the pale of civil law.

not any; not one

From this reading We were within the Indian country where no organized civil government existed.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Nothing could be further from the facts than this assumption, as evil-doers soon found out to their discomfort.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When we stepped foot upon the right bank of the Missouri River we were outside the pale of civil law.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading OUT ON THE PLAINS.

formed into a structured or coherent whole, particularly on a large scale

From this reading We were within the Indian country where no organized civil government existed.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading OUT ON THE PLAINS.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading When we stepped foot upon the right bank of the Missouri River we were outside the pale of civil law.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.

very light colored; highly diluted with white

From this reading When we stepped foot upon the right bank of the Missouri River we were outside the pale of civil law.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.

involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.

plural of “plain” — extensive tract of level open land

From this reading OUT ON THE PLAINS.

precisely, exactly

From this reading When we stepped foot upon the right bank of the Missouri River we were outside the pale of civil law.

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading When we stepped foot upon the right bank of the Missouri River we were outside the pale of civil law.

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

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.

in the near future

From this reading Nothing could be further from the facts than this assumption, as evil-doers soon found out to their discomfort.

inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step

From this reading When we stepped foot upon the right bank of the Missouri River we were outside the pale of civil law.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Nothing could be further from the facts than this assumption, as evil-doers soon found out to their discomfort.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.

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

From this reading OUT ON THE PLAINS.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Nothing could be further from the facts than this assumption, as evil-doers soon found out to their discomfort.

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

From this reading Nothing could be further from the facts than this assumption, as evil-doers soon found out to their discomfort.

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

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.

an old word for “to”

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading When we stepped foot upon the right bank of the Missouri River we were outside the pale of civil law.

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

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading When we stepped foot upon the right bank of the Missouri River we were outside the pale of civil law.

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

From this reading When we stepped foot upon the right bank of the Missouri River we were outside the pale of civil law.

at the time that

From this reading When we stepped foot upon the right bank of the Missouri River we were outside the pale of civil law.

in or at the place that

From this reading We were within the Indian country where no organized civil government existed.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading We were within the Indian country where no organized civil government existed.

plural of “writer” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading Some people and some writers have assumed that each man was "a law unto himself" and free to do his own will, dependent, of course, upon his physical ability to enforce it.