Chapter XXIII

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

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

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

From this reading "Swan knew you was an easy feller, and green to the ways of them tricky sheepmen," said Dad.

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

From this reading "Swan knew you was an easy feller, and green to the ways of them tricky sheepmen," said Dad.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

any person at all

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading "You let him off in that first fight with a little crack on the head when you'd ought to 'a' laid him out for good, and you let Hector Hall go that time you took his guns away from him.

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

From this reading "A sheepman oughtn't to be," Mackenzie said, in the bitterness of defeat.

for the reason that

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will

From this reading "A sheepman oughtn't to be," Mackenzie said, in the bitterness of defeat.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

a young person of either sex

From this reading Folks in here never could understand that; they say it was like a child playin' with a rattlesnake."

-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

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

From this reading Folks in here never could understand that; they say it was like a child playin' with a rattlesnake."

become fractured; break or crack on the surface only

From this reading "You let him off in that first fight with a little crack on the head when you'd ought to 'a' laid him out for good, and you let Hector Hall go that time you took his guns away from him.

an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk

From this reading "Swan knew you was an easy feller, and green to the ways of them tricky sheepmen," said Dad.

an unsuccessful ending to a struggle or contest

From this reading "A sheepman oughtn't to be," Mackenzie said, in the bitterness of defeat.

make a sudden movement in a new direction so as to avoid

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading "Swan knew you was an easy feller, and green to the ways of them tricky sheepmen," said Dad.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

divisible by two

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

a person who fells trees

From this reading "Swan knew you was an easy feller, and green to the ways of them tricky sheepmen," said Dad.

be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

From this reading "You let him off in that first fight with a little crack on the head when you'd ought to 'a' laid him out for good, and you let Hector Hall go that time you took his guns away from him.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading "You let him off in that first fight with a little crack on the head when you'd ought to 'a' laid him out for good, and you let Hector Hall go that time you took his guns away from him.

your parents

From this reading Folks in here never could understand that; they say it was like a child playin' with a rattlesnake."

a person who lacks good judgment

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "You let him off in that first fight with a little crack on the head when you'd ought to 'a' laid him out for good, and you let Hector Hall go that time you took his guns away from him.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "You let him off in that first fight with a little crack on the head when you'd ought to 'a' laid him out for good, and you let Hector Hall go that time you took his guns away from him.

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

From this reading "You let him off in that first fight with a little crack on the head when you'd ought to 'a' laid him out for good, and you let Hector Hall go that time you took his guns away from him.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading "You let him off in that first fight with a little crack on the head when you'd ought to 'a' laid him out for good, and you let Hector Hall go that time you took his guns away from him.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading "Swan knew you was an easy feller, and green to the ways of them tricky sheepmen," said Dad.

plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)

From this reading "You let him off in that first fight with a little crack on the head when you'd ought to 'a' laid him out for good, and you let Hector Hall go that time you took his guns away from him.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading "You let him off in that first fight with a little crack on the head when you'd ought to 'a' laid him out for good, and you let Hector Hall go that time you took his guns away from him.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading "You let him off in that first fight with a little crack on the head when you'd ought to 'a' laid him out for good, and you let Hector Hall go that time you took his guns away from him.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

(Greek mythology) a mythical Trojan who was killed by Achilles during the Trojan War

From this reading "You let him off in that first fight with a little crack on the head when you'd ought to 'a' laid him out for good, and you let Hector Hall go that time you took his guns away from him.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Folks in here never could understand that; they say it was like a child playin' with a rattlesnake."

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

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

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

From this reading "You let him off in that first fight with a little crack on the head when you'd ought to 'a' laid him out for good, and you let Hector Hall go that time you took his guns away from him.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

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

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

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

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading "Swan knew you was an easy feller, and green to the ways of them tricky sheepmen," said Dad.

set down according to a plan

From this reading "You let him off in that first fight with a little crack on the head when you'd ought to 'a' laid him out for good, and you let Hector Hall go that time you took his guns away from him.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

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

From this reading "You let him off in that first fight with a little crack on the head when you'd ought to 'a' laid him out for good, and you let Hector Hall go that time you took his guns away from him.

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 "A sheepman oughtn't to be," Mackenzie said, in the bitterness of defeat.

the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

not any; not one

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading "You let him off in that first fight with a little crack on the head when you'd ought to 'a' laid him out for good, and you let Hector Hall go that time you took his guns away from him.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading "You let him off in that first fight with a little crack on the head when you'd ought to 'a' laid him out for good, and you let Hector Hall go that time you took his guns away from him.

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

From this reading "A sheepman oughtn't to be," Mackenzie said, in the bitterness of defeat.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading "You let him off in that first fight with a little crack on the head when you'd ought to 'a' laid him out for good, and you let Hector Hall go that time you took his guns away from him.

above and across; more than

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

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

From this reading Folks in here never could understand that; they say it was like a child playin' with a rattlesnake."

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

pit viper with horny segments at the end of the tail that rattle when shaken

From this reading Folks in here never could understand that; they say it was like a child playin' with a rattlesnake."

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "A sheepman oughtn't to be," Mackenzie said, in the bitterness of defeat.

express in words

From this reading Folks in here never could understand that; they say it was like a child playin' with a rattlesnake."

a man who raises (or tends) sheep

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

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

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true

From this reading "Swan knew you was an easy feller, and green to the ways of them tricky sheepmen," said Dad.

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

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

express in words

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

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

From this reading "A sheepman oughtn't to be," Mackenzie said, in the bitterness of defeat.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading "Swan knew you was an easy feller, and green to the ways of them tricky sheepmen," said Dad.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Folks in here never could understand that; they say it was like a child playin' with a rattlesnake."

a special situation

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading "You let him off in that first fight with a little crack on the head when you'd ought to 'a' laid him out for good, and you let Hector Hall go that time you took his guns away from him.

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

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

not to be trusted

From this reading "Swan knew you was an easy feller, and green to the ways of them tricky sheepmen," said Dad.

know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

From this reading Folks in here never could understand that; they say it was like a child playin' with a rattlesnake."

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

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired

From this reading "Swan knew you was an easy feller, and green to the ways of them tricky sheepmen," said Dad.

at the time that

From this reading "You let him off in that first fight with a little crack on the head when you'd ought to 'a' laid him out for good, and you let Hector Hall go that time you took his guns away from him.

in the company of; together with

From this reading "You let him off in that first fight with a little crack on the head when you'd ought to 'a' laid him out for good, and you let Hector Hall go that time you took his guns away from him.

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

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

an affirmative

From this reading CONCERNING MARY "Yes, I've heard tell of sheepmen workin' Swan's dodge on one another, but I never took no stock in it, because I never believed even a sheepman was fool enough to let anybody put a thing like that over on him."

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Swan knew you was an easy feller, and green to the ways of them tricky sheepmen," said Dad.

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

From this reading "You let him off in that first fight with a little crack on the head when you'd ought to 'a' laid him out for good, and you let Hector Hall go that time you took his guns away from him.