used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MAN AND HIS HORSE When Rathburn closed the outer door after him he plunged down the steps and into the shadows by the wall of the jail.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A MAN AND HIS HORSE When Rathburn closed the outer door after him he plunged down the steps and into the shadows by the wall of the jail.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A MAN AND HIS HORSE When Rathburn closed the outer door after him he plunged down the steps and into the shadows by the wall of the jail.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He could see yellow beams streaming from the windows of the resort up the street, however, as he hesitated.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A horse--his own horse, he felt--was necessary for his escape, but his horse was a long distance away.
beamsnounUS /biːmz/
plural of “beam” — a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather
From this reading He could see yellow beams streaming from the windows of the resort up the street, however, as he hesitated.
for the reason that
From this reading He was mightily handicapped because he had no horse.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A horse--his own horse, he felt--was necessary for his escape, but his horse was a long distance away.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A MAN AND HIS HORSE When Rathburn closed the outer door after him he plunged down the steps and into the shadows by the wall of the jail.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading A MAN AND HIS HORSE When Rathburn closed the outer door after him he plunged down the steps and into the shadows by the wall of the jail.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could see yellow beams streaming from the windows of the resort up the street, however, as he hesitated.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading A horse--his own horse, he felt--was necessary for his escape, but his horse was a long distance away.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A MAN AND HIS HORSE When Rathburn closed the outer door after him he plunged down the steps and into the shadows by the wall of the jail.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A MAN AND HIS HORSE When Rathburn closed the outer door after him he plunged down the steps and into the shadows by the wall of the jail.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading A horse--his own horse, he felt--was necessary for his escape, but his horse was a long distance away.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading A horse--his own horse, he felt--was necessary for his escape, but his horse was a long distance away.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Few lights showed in the town, for it was past midnight.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Few lights showed in the town, for it was past midnight.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He could see yellow beams streaming from the windows of the resort up the street, however, as he hesitated.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was mightily handicapped because he had no horse.
handicappedadjectiveUS /ˈhændikæpt/
having restricted mental or physical functioning as a consequence of injury or illness
From this reading He was mightily handicapped because he had no horse.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A MAN AND HIS HORSE When Rathburn closed the outer door after him he plunged down the steps and into the shadows by the wall of the jail.
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading He could see yellow beams streaming from the windows of the resort up the street, however, as he hesitated.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A MAN AND HIS HORSE When Rathburn closed the outer door after him he plunged down the steps and into the shadows by the wall of the jail.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A MAN AND HIS HORSE When Rathburn closed the outer door after him he plunged down the steps and into the shadows by the wall of the jail.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading A MAN AND HIS HORSE When Rathburn closed the outer door after him he plunged down the steps and into the shadows by the wall of the jail.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading He could see yellow beams streaming from the windows of the resort up the street, however, as he hesitated.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Few lights showed in the town, for it was past midnight.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A MAN AND HIS HORSE When Rathburn closed the outer door after him he plunged down the steps and into the shadows by the wall of the jail.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Few lights showed in the town, for it was past midnight.
jailnounUS /dʒeɪl/
a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
From this reading A MAN AND HIS HORSE When Rathburn closed the outer door after him he plunged down the steps and into the shadows by the wall of the jail.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading Few lights showed in the town, for it was past midnight.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading A horse--his own horse, he felt--was necessary for his escape, but his horse was a long distance away.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A MAN AND HIS HORSE When Rathburn closed the outer door after him he plunged down the steps and into the shadows by the wall of the jail.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading Few lights showed in the town, for it was past midnight.
mightilyadverbUS /ˈmaɪtəli/
powerfully or vigorously
From this reading He was mightily handicapped because he had no horse.
absolutely essential
From this reading A horse--his own horse, he felt--was necessary for his escape, but his horse was a long distance away.
not any; not one
From this reading He was mightily handicapped because he had no horse.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A MAN AND HIS HORSE When Rathburn closed the outer door after him he plunged down the steps and into the shadows by the wall of the jail.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading A MAN AND HIS HORSE When Rathburn closed the outer door after him he plunged down the steps and into the shadows by the wall of the jail.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading A horse--his own horse, he felt--was necessary for his escape, but his horse was a long distance away.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Few lights showed in the town, for it was past midnight.
past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading A MAN AND HIS HORSE When Rathburn closed the outer door after him he plunged down the steps and into the shadows by the wall of the jail.
Rathburn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A MAN AND HIS HORSE When Rathburn closed the outer door after him he plunged down the steps and into the shadows by the wall of the jail.
resortnounUS /rɪˈzɔːrt/
a hotel located in a resort area
From this reading He could see yellow beams streaming from the windows of the resort up the street, however, as he hesitated.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He could see yellow beams streaming from the windows of the resort up the street, however, as he hesitated.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading A MAN AND HIS HORSE When Rathburn closed the outer door after him he plunged down the steps and into the shadows by the wall of the jail.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Few lights showed in the town, for it was past midnight.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading A MAN AND HIS HORSE When Rathburn closed the outer door after him he plunged down the steps and into the shadows by the wall of the jail.
streamingadjectiveUS /ˈstriːmɪŋ/
exuding a bodily fluid in profuse amounts
From this reading He could see yellow beams streaming from the windows of the resort up the street, however, as he hesitated.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading He could see yellow beams streaming from the windows of the resort up the street, however, as he hesitated.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A MAN AND HIS HORSE When Rathburn closed the outer door after him he plunged down the steps and into the shadows by the wall of the jail.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Few lights showed in the town, for it was past midnight.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He could see yellow beams streaming from the windows of the resort up the street, however, as he hesitated.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading A MAN AND HIS HORSE When Rathburn closed the outer door after him he plunged down the steps and into the shadows by the wall of the jail.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Few lights showed in the town, for it was past midnight.
at the time that
From this reading A MAN AND HIS HORSE When Rathburn closed the outer door after him he plunged down the steps and into the shadows by the wall of the jail.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading He could see yellow beams streaming from the windows of the resort up the street, however, as he hesitated.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading He could see yellow beams streaming from the windows of the resort up the street, however, as he hesitated.
