Chapter XXXVIII · Chapter 38

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

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading For hours he would seem to go about his duties as an automaton.

(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 Once light of mien, now he smiled never at all.

in addition

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

changed in form or character without becoming something else

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

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

From this reading For hours he would seem to go about his duties as an automaton.

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

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

any person at all

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

outward or visible aspect of a person or thing

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

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

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Once light of mien, now he smiled never at all.

someone who acts or responds in a mechanical or apathetic way

From this reading For hours he would seem to go about his duties as an automaton.

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

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

having hair on the cheeks and chin

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

a statute in draft before it becomes law

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

(used in the plural) breeches made of buckskin

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

small room on a ship or boat where people sleep

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

made or become different in nature or form

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

a line made of twisted fibers or threads

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

plural of “duty” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading For hours he would seem to go about his duties as an automaton.

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

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

divisible by two

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

at any time

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

start firing a weapon

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

plural of “foothill” — a relatively low hill on the lower slope of a mountain

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading For hours he would seem to go about his duties as an automaton.

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

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

in a hurried or hasty manner

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

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

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

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

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

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

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading For hours he would seem to go about his duties as an automaton.

past form of “house” — contain or cover

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

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

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

English film actress who later became a member of British Parliament (born in 1936)

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

the month following May and preceding July

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

someone who causes the death of a person or animal

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Once light of mien, now he smiled never at all.

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

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

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

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

the food served and eaten at one time

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

the force of workers available

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

the middle of the day

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

dignified manner or conduct

From this reading Once light of mien, now he smiled never at all.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Once light of mien, now he smiled never at all.

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

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

on one occasion

From this reading Once light of mien, now he smiled never at all.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

belonging to an early stage of technical development; characterized by simplicity and (often) crudeness

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

plural of “rib” — support resembling the rib of an animal

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

having or caused by an irregular surface

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading For hours he would seem to go about his duties as an automaton.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

a range of mountains (usually with jagged peaks and irregular outline)

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading Once light of mien, now he smiled never at all.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

inflected form of “spin” — revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

express in words

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

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

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

caused to fall to the ground

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

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

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

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

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

meat from a deer used as food

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

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

From this reading The older man, thin, bearded, who now spun a side of venison ribs on a cord in front of the open fire, was the mountain man, Bill Jackson, as anyone might tell who ever had seen him, for he had changed but little.

which person or people

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading THE KILLER KILLED A rough low cabin of logs, hastily thrown together, housed through the winter months of the Sierra foothills the two men who now, in the warm days of early June, sat by the primitive fireplace cooking a midday meal.

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

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.

used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father

From this reading That his companion, younger, bearded, dressed also in buckskins, was Will Banion it would have taken closer scrutiny even of a friend to determine, so much had the passing of these few months altered him in appearance and in manner.