used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In fact, Mackenzie thought, it looked as if he had been running with his eyes shut, making boastful pledges.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He might have to hedge on some of them, or put them through at a cost far beyond the profit.
BEACONnounUS /ˈbiːkən/
a fire (usually on a hill or tower) that can be seen from a distance
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Hector Hall had been given to understand the same thing.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading He might have to hedge on some of them, or put them through at a cost far beyond the profit.
boastfuladjectiveUS /ˈboʊstfəl/
exhibiting self-importance
From this reading In fact, Mackenzie thought, it looked as if he had been running with his eyes shut, making boastful pledges.
commotionnounUS /kəˈmoʊʃən/
a disorderly outburst or tumult
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor
From this reading He might have to hedge on some of them, or put them through at a cost far beyond the profit.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading He had pledged himself to Tim and Joan that he would not quit the sheep country without proving that he had in him the mettle of a flockmaster.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
opinion or judgment
From this reading In fact, Mackenzie thought, it looked as if he had been running with his eyes shut, making boastful pledges.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact, Mackenzie thought, it looked as if he had been running with his eyes shut, making boastful pledges.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading He might have to hedge on some of them, or put them through at a cost far beyond the profit.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
flockmaster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had pledged himself to Tim and Joan that he would not quit the sheep country without proving that he had in him the mettle of a flockmaster.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Hector Hall had been given to understand the same thing.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had pledged himself to Tim and Joan that he would not quit the sheep country without proving that he had in him the mettle of a flockmaster.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He might have to hedge on some of them, or put them through at a cost far beyond the profit.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had pledged himself to Tim and Joan that he would not quit the sheep country without proving that he had in him the mettle of a flockmaster.
HECTORnounUS /ˈhektər/
(Greek mythology) a mythical Trojan who was killed by Achilles during the Trojan War
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
hedgeverbUS /hedʒ/
avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)
From this reading He might have to hedge on some of them, or put them through at a cost far beyond the profit.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had pledged himself to Tim and Joan that he would not quit the sheep country without proving that he had in him the mettle of a flockmaster.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He had pledged himself to Tim and Joan that he would not quit the sheep country without proving that he had in him the mettle of a flockmaster.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading In fact, Mackenzie thought, it looked as if he had been running with his eyes shut, making boastful pledges.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had pledged himself to Tim and Joan that he would not quit the sheep country without proving that he had in him the mettle of a flockmaster.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In fact, Mackenzie thought, it looked as if he had been running with his eyes shut, making boastful pledges.
Joan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had pledged himself to Tim and Joan that he would not quit the sheep country without proving that he had in him the mettle of a flockmaster.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
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 HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading In fact, Mackenzie thought, it looked as if he had been running with his eyes shut, making boastful pledges.
MackenzienounUS /məˈkenzi/
Canadian explorer (born in England) who explored the Mackenzie River and who was first to cross North America by land north of Mexico (1764-1820)
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading In fact, Mackenzie thought, it looked as if he had been running with his eyes shut, making boastful pledges.
mettlenounUS /ˈmetəl/
the courage to carry on
From this reading He had pledged himself to Tim and Joan that he would not quit the sheep country without proving that he had in him the mettle of a flockmaster.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He might have to hedge on some of them, or put them through at a cost far beyond the profit.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had pledged himself to Tim and Joan that he would not quit the sheep country without proving that he had in him the mettle of a flockmaster.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He might have to hedge on some of them, or put them through at a cost far beyond the profit.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
pledgedadjectiveUS /pledʒd/
bound by or as if by an oath
From this reading He had pledged himself to Tim and Joan that he would not quit the sheep country without proving that he had in him the mettle of a flockmaster.
pledgesnounUS /ˈpledʒɪz/
plural of “pledge” — a deposit of personal property as security for a debt
From this reading In fact, Mackenzie thought, it looked as if he had been running with his eyes shut, making boastful pledges.
profitnounUS /ˈprɑːfət/
the excess of revenues over outlays in a given period of time (including depreciation and other non-cash expenses)
From this reading He might have to hedge on some of them, or put them through at a cost far beyond the profit.
provingverbUS /ˈpruːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “prove” — be shown or be found to be
From this reading He had pledged himself to Tim and Joan that he would not quit the sheep country without proving that he had in him the mettle of a flockmaster.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He might have to hedge on some of them, or put them through at a cost far beyond the profit.
quitverbUS /kwɪt/
put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading He had pledged himself to Tim and Joan that he would not quit the sheep country without proving that he had in him the mettle of a flockmaster.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading In fact, Mackenzie thought, it looked as if he had been running with his eyes shut, making boastful pledges.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Hector Hall had been given to understand the same thing.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
SETSnounUS /sets/
plural of “set” — a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading In fact, Mackenzie thought, it looked as if he had been running with his eyes shut, making boastful pledges.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He might have to hedge on some of them, or put them through at a cost far beyond the profit.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He might have to hedge on some of them, or put them through at a cost far beyond the profit.
a special situation
From this reading Hector Hall had been given to understand the same thing.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading In fact, Mackenzie thought, it looked as if he had been running with his eyes shut, making boastful pledges.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He might have to hedge on some of them, or put them through at a cost far beyond the profit.
Tim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had pledged himself to Tim and Joan that he would not quit the sheep country without proving that he had in him the mettle of a flockmaster.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading Hector Hall had been given to understand the same thing.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading HECTOR HALL SETS A BEACON Mackenzie sat a long time on his hill that night, his ear turned to the wind, smoking his pipe and thinking the situation over while listening for the first sound of commotion among the sheep.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In fact, Mackenzie thought, it looked as if he had been running with his eyes shut, making boastful pledges.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He had pledged himself to Tim and Joan that he would not quit the sheep country without proving that he had in him the mettle of a flockmaster.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He had pledged himself to Tim and Joan that he would not quit the sheep country without proving that he had in him the mettle of a flockmaster.
