used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He surmised that the trail to the desert hills to eastward was not a popular one.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading As he neared the town he saw that it consisted of one main street with buildings clustered about it, and numerous shacks scattered in the lee of the hills.
(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 In all the distance he had traveled from the lonely ranch where he had met the girl and the boy he had encountered no one.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He rode slowly toward it, staring moodily at the flickering lights between interlaced branches which waved and weaved in the wind blowing down from the mountains.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he neared the town he saw that it consisted of one main street with buildings clustered about it, and numerous shacks scattered in the lee of the hills.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He rode slowly toward it, staring moodily at the flickering lights between interlaced branches which waved and weaved in the wind blowing down from the mountains.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading He rode slowly toward it, staring moodily at the flickering lights between interlaced branches which waved and weaved in the wind blowing down from the mountains.
blowingnounUS /ˈbloʊɪŋ/
processing that involves blowing a gas
From this reading He rode slowly toward it, staring moodily at the flickering lights between interlaced branches which waved and weaved in the wind blowing down from the mountains.
a youthful male person
From this reading In all the distance he had traveled from the lonely ranch where he had met the girl and the boy he had encountered no one.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading He rode slowly toward it, staring moodily at the flickering lights between interlaced branches which waved and weaved in the wind blowing down from the mountains.
buildingsnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋz/
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading As he neared the town he saw that it consisted of one main street with buildings clustered about it, and numerous shacks scattered in the lee of the hills.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE LAW Night had descended when Rathburn came in sight of the little town on the edge of the foothills.
clusteredadjectiveUS /ˈklʌstərd/
growing close together but not in dense mats
From this reading As he neared the town he saw that it consisted of one main street with buildings clustered about it, and numerous shacks scattered in the lee of the hills.
consistedverbUS /kənˈsɪstəd/
past form of “consist” — originate
From this reading As he neared the town he saw that it consisted of one main street with buildings clustered about it, and numerous shacks scattered in the lee of the hills.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading THE LAW Night had descended when Rathburn came in sight of the little town on the edge of the foothills.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading He surmised that the trail to the desert hills to eastward was not a popular one.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading In all the distance he had traveled from the lonely ranch where he had met the girl and the boy he had encountered no one.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He rode slowly toward it, staring moodily at the flickering lights between interlaced branches which waved and weaved in the wind blowing down from the mountains.
eastwardadjectiveUS /ˈiːstwərd/
moving toward the east
From this reading He surmised that the trail to the desert hills to eastward was not a popular one.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading THE LAW Night had descended when Rathburn came in sight of the little town on the edge of the foothills.
encounteredverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntərd/
past form of “encounter” — come together
From this reading In all the distance he had traveled from the lonely ranch where he had met the girl and the boy he had encountered no one.
flickeringadjectiveUS /ˈflɪkərɪŋ/
shining unsteadily
From this reading He rode slowly toward it, staring moodily at the flickering lights between interlaced branches which waved and weaved in the wind blowing down from the mountains.
foothillsnounUS /ˈfʊthɪlz/
plural of “foothill” — a relatively low hill on the lower slope of a mountain
From this reading THE LAW Night had descended when Rathburn came in sight of the little town on the edge of the foothills.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He rode slowly toward it, staring moodily at the flickering lights between interlaced branches which waved and weaved in the wind blowing down from the mountains.
a young female
From this reading In all the distance he had traveled from the lonely ranch where he had met the girl and the boy he had encountered no one.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE LAW Night had descended when Rathburn came in sight of the little town on the edge of the foothills.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He rode slowly toward it, staring moodily at the flickering lights between interlaced branches which waved and weaved in the wind blowing down from the mountains.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading He surmised that the trail to the desert hills to eastward was not a popular one.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE LAW Night had descended when Rathburn came in sight of the little town on the edge of the foothills.
interlacedadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈleɪst/
having a pattern of fretwork or latticework
From this reading He rode slowly toward it, staring moodily at the flickering lights between interlaced branches which waved and weaved in the wind blowing down from the mountains.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He rode slowly toward it, staring moodily at the flickering lights between interlaced branches which waved and weaved in the wind blowing down from the mountains.
the collection of rules imposed by authority
From this reading THE LAW Night had descended when Rathburn came in sight of the little town on the edge of the foothills.
leenounUS /liː/
United States filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in America (born in 1957)
From this reading As he neared the town he saw that it consisted of one main street with buildings clustered about it, and numerous shacks scattered in the lee of the hills.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading He rode slowly toward it, staring moodily at the flickering lights between interlaced branches which waved and weaved in the wind blowing down from the mountains.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE LAW Night had descended when Rathburn came in sight of the little town on the edge of the foothills.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading In all the distance he had traveled from the lonely ranch where he had met the girl and the boy he had encountered no one.
most important element
From this reading As he neared the town he saw that it consisted of one main street with buildings clustered about it, and numerous shacks scattered in the lee of the hills.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading In all the distance he had traveled from the lonely ranch where he had met the girl and the boy he had encountered no one.
moodilyadverb
in a moody manner
From this reading He rode slowly toward it, staring moodily at the flickering lights between interlaced branches which waved and weaved in the wind blowing down from the mountains.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading He rode slowly toward it, staring moodily at the flickering lights between interlaced branches which waved and weaved in the wind blowing down from the mountains.
nearedverbUS /nɪrd/
past form of “near” — move towards
From this reading As he neared the town he saw that it consisted of one main street with buildings clustered about it, and numerous shacks scattered in the lee of the hills.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE LAW Night had descended when Rathburn came in sight of the little town on the edge of the foothills.
not any; not one
From this reading In all the distance he had traveled from the lonely ranch where he had met the girl and the boy he had encountered no one.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He surmised that the trail to the desert hills to eastward was not a popular one.
amounting to a large indefinite number
From this reading As he neared the town he saw that it consisted of one main street with buildings clustered about it, and numerous shacks scattered in the lee of the hills.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE LAW Night had descended when Rathburn came in sight of the little town on the edge of the foothills.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE LAW Night had descended when Rathburn came in sight of the little town on the edge of the foothills.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In all the distance he had traveled from the lonely ranch where he had met the girl and the boy he had encountered no one.
regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public
From this reading He surmised that the trail to the desert hills to eastward was not a popular one.
ranchnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading In all the distance he had traveled from the lonely ranch where he had met the girl and the boy he had encountered no one.
Rathburn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LAW Night had descended when Rathburn came in sight of the little town on the edge of the foothills.
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading He rode slowly toward it, staring moodily at the flickering lights between interlaced branches which waved and weaved in the wind blowing down from the mountains.
cut with a saw
From this reading As he neared the town he saw that it consisted of one main street with buildings clustered about it, and numerous shacks scattered in the lee of the hills.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading As he neared the town he saw that it consisted of one main street with buildings clustered about it, and numerous shacks scattered in the lee of the hills.
shacksnounUS /ʃæks/
plural of “shack” — small crude shelter used as a dwelling
From this reading As he neared the town he saw that it consisted of one main street with buildings clustered about it, and numerous shacks scattered in the lee of the hills.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading THE LAW Night had descended when Rathburn came in sight of the little town on the edge of the foothills.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading He rode slowly toward it, staring moodily at the flickering lights between interlaced branches which waved and weaved in the wind blowing down from the mountains.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading He rode slowly toward it, staring moodily at the flickering lights between interlaced branches which waved and weaved in the wind blowing down from the mountains.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading As he neared the town he saw that it consisted of one main street with buildings clustered about it, and numerous shacks scattered in the lee of the hills.
surmisedverbUS /sərˈmaɪzd/
past form of “surmise” — infer from incomplete evidence
From this reading He surmised that the trail to the desert hills to eastward was not a popular one.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He surmised that the trail to the desert hills to eastward was not a popular one.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LAW Night had descended when Rathburn came in sight of the little town on the edge of the foothills.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He surmised that the trail to the desert hills to eastward was not a popular one.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading He rode slowly toward it, staring moodily at the flickering lights between interlaced branches which waved and weaved in the wind blowing down from the mountains.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading THE LAW Night had descended when Rathburn came in sight of the little town on the edge of the foothills.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading He surmised that the trail to the desert hills to eastward was not a popular one.
traveledadjectiveUS /ˈtrævəld/
traveled over or through; sometimes used as a combining term
From this reading In all the distance he had traveled from the lonely ranch where he had met the girl and the boy he had encountered no one.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He surmised that the trail to the desert hills to eastward was not a popular one.
past form of “wave” — signal with the hands or nod
From this reading He rode slowly toward it, staring moodily at the flickering lights between interlaced branches which waved and weaved in the wind blowing down from the mountains.
weavedverbUS /wiːvd/
past form of “weave” — interlace by or as if by weaving
From this reading He rode slowly toward it, staring moodily at the flickering lights between interlaced branches which waved and weaved in the wind blowing down from the mountains.
at the time that
From this reading THE LAW Night had descended when Rathburn came in sight of the little town on the edge of the foothills.
in or at the place that
From this reading In all the distance he had traveled from the lonely ranch where he had met the girl and the boy he had encountered no one.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He rode slowly toward it, staring moodily at the flickering lights between interlaced branches which waved and weaved in the wind blowing down from the mountains.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading He rode slowly toward it, staring moodily at the flickering lights between interlaced branches which waved and weaved in the wind blowing down from the mountains.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As he neared the town he saw that it consisted of one main street with buildings clustered about it, and numerous shacks scattered in the lee of the hills.
