used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading BESIEGED--CONCLUSION The sun rose redly and shone down into the arroyo on a group of sleepless, anxious persons.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading If Red Bill had had any idea that he was going to find Mr. Bell an easy prey he must have revised his opinion.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading BESIEGED--CONCLUSION The sun rose redly and shone down into the arroyo on a group of sleepless, anxious persons.
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading As the tall bandit had triumphantly announced, Jim Bell's mine was besieged.
eagerly desirous
From this reading BESIEGED--CONCLUSION The sun rose redly and shone down into the arroyo on a group of sleepless, anxious persons.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading If Red Bill had had any idea that he was going to find Mr. Bell an easy prey he must have revised his opinion.
(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms
From this reading Since the evening before armed horsemen had surrounded it, but so far the little garrison had held out.
arroyonounUS /ərˈɔɪoʊ/
a stream or brook
From this reading BESIEGED--CONCLUSION The sun rose redly and shone down into the arroyo on a group of sleepless, anxious persons.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the tall bandit had triumphantly announced, Jim Bell's mine was besieged.
banditnounUS /ˈbændət/
an armed thief who is (usually) a member of a band
From this reading As the tall bandit had triumphantly announced, Jim Bell's mine was besieged.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Since the evening before armed horsemen had surrounded it, but so far the little garrison had held out.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading If Red Bill had had any idea that he was going to find Mr. Bell an easy prey he must have revised his opinion.
Bell'snounUS /belz/
possessive form of “bell” — a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading As the tall bandit had triumphantly announced, Jim Bell's mine was besieged.
BESIEGEDadjectiveUS /bɪˈsiːdʒd/
surrounded by hostile forces
From this reading BESIEGED--CONCLUSION The sun rose redly and shone down into the arroyo on a group of sleepless, anxious persons.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading If Red Bill had had any idea that he was going to find Mr. Bell an easy prey he must have revised his opinion.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Since the evening before armed horsemen had surrounded it, but so far the little garrison had held out.
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading BESIEGED--CONCLUSION The sun rose redly and shone down into the arroyo on a group of sleepless, anxious persons.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But he knew that it was only a question of time till he could starve him out and take possession of the mine.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading BESIEGED--CONCLUSION The sun rose redly and shone down into the arroyo on a group of sleepless, anxious persons.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading If Red Bill had had any idea that he was going to find Mr. Bell an easy prey he must have revised his opinion.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Since the evening before armed horsemen had surrounded it, but so far the little garrison had held out.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Since the evening before armed horsemen had surrounded it, but so far the little garrison had held out.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading If Red Bill had had any idea that he was going to find Mr. Bell an easy prey he must have revised his opinion.
garrisonnounUS /ˈɡærɪsən/
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading Since the evening before armed horsemen had surrounded it, but so far the little garrison had held out.
the act of departing
From this reading If Red Bill had had any idea that he was going to find Mr. Bell an easy prey he must have revised his opinion.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading BESIEGED--CONCLUSION The sun rose redly and shone down into the arroyo on a group of sleepless, anxious persons.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As the tall bandit had triumphantly announced, Jim Bell's mine was besieged.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If Red Bill had had any idea that he was going to find Mr. Bell an easy prey he must have revised his opinion.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If Red Bill had had any idea that he was going to find Mr. Bell an easy prey he must have revised his opinion.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Since the evening before armed horsemen had surrounded it, but so far the little garrison had held out.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But he knew that it was only a question of time till he could starve him out and take possession of the mine.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading If Red Bill had had any idea that he was going to find Mr. Bell an easy prey he must have revised his opinion.
horsemennounUS /ˈhɔːrsmən/
plural of “horseman” — a man skilled in equitation
From this reading Since the evening before armed horsemen had surrounded it, but so far the little garrison had held out.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading If Red Bill had had any idea that he was going to find Mr. Bell an easy prey he must have revised his opinion.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Red Bill had had any idea that he was going to find Mr. Bell an easy prey he must have revised his opinion.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading BESIEGED--CONCLUSION The sun rose redly and shone down into the arroyo on a group of sleepless, anxious persons.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Since the evening before armed horsemen had surrounded it, but so far the little garrison had held out.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the tall bandit had triumphantly announced, Jim Bell's mine was besieged.
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 But he knew that it was only a question of time till he could starve him out and take possession of the mine.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Since the evening before armed horsemen had surrounded it, but so far the little garrison had held out.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading As the tall bandit had triumphantly announced, Jim Bell's mine was besieged.
a form of address for a man
From this reading If Red Bill had had any idea that he was going to find Mr. Bell an easy prey he must have revised his opinion.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading If Red Bill had had any idea that he was going to find Mr. Bell an easy prey he must have revised his opinion.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BESIEGED--CONCLUSION The sun rose redly and shone down into the arroyo on a group of sleepless, anxious persons.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading BESIEGED--CONCLUSION The sun rose redly and shone down into the arroyo on a group of sleepless, anxious persons.
and nothing more
From this reading But he knew that it was only a question of time till he could starve him out and take possession of the mine.
a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading If Red Bill had had any idea that he was going to find Mr. Bell an easy prey he must have revised his opinion.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Since the evening before armed horsemen had surrounded it, but so far the little garrison had held out.
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading BESIEGED--CONCLUSION The sun rose redly and shone down into the arroyo on a group of sleepless, anxious persons.
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading But he knew that it was only a question of time till he could starve him out and take possession of the mine.
preynounUS /preɪ/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading If Red Bill had had any idea that he was going to find Mr. Bell an easy prey he must have revised his opinion.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading But he knew that it was only a question of time till he could starve him out and take possession of the mine.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading If Red Bill had had any idea that he was going to find Mr. Bell an easy prey he must have revised his opinion.
redlyadverb
displaying a red color
From this reading BESIEGED--CONCLUSION The sun rose redly and shone down into the arroyo on a group of sleepless, anxious persons.
revisedadjectiveUS /rɪˈvaɪzd/
improved or brought up to date
From this reading If Red Bill had had any idea that he was going to find Mr. Bell an easy prey he must have revised his opinion.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading BESIEGED--CONCLUSION The sun rose redly and shone down into the arroyo on a group of sleepless, anxious persons.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading BESIEGED--CONCLUSION The sun rose redly and shone down into the arroyo on a group of sleepless, anxious persons.
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Since the evening before armed horsemen had surrounded it, but so far the little garrison had held out.
sleeplessadjectiveUS /ˈsliːpləs/
experiencing or accompanied by sleeplessness
From this reading BESIEGED--CONCLUSION The sun rose redly and shone down into the arroyo on a group of sleepless, anxious persons.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Since the evening before armed horsemen had surrounded it, but so far the little garrison had held out.
starveverbUS /stɑːrv/
be hungry; go without food
From this reading But he knew that it was only a question of time till he could starve him out and take possession of the mine.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading BESIEGED--CONCLUSION The sun rose redly and shone down into the arroyo on a group of sleepless, anxious persons.
confined on all sides
From this reading Since the evening before armed horsemen had surrounded it, but so far the little garrison had held out.
carry out
From this reading But he knew that it was only a question of time till he could starve him out and take possession of the mine.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading As the tall bandit had triumphantly announced, Jim Bell's mine was besieged.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If Red Bill had had any idea that he was going to find Mr. Bell an easy prey he must have revised his opinion.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BESIEGED--CONCLUSION The sun rose redly and shone down into the arroyo on a group of sleepless, anxious persons.
up to a particular time
From this reading But he knew that it was only a question of time till he could starve him out and take possession of the mine.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading But he knew that it was only a question of time till he could starve him out and take possession of the mine.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If Red Bill had had any idea that he was going to find Mr. Bell an easy prey he must have revised his opinion.
triumphantlyadverbUS /traɪˈʌmfəntli/
in a triumphant manner
From this reading As the tall bandit had triumphantly announced, Jim Bell's mine was besieged.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As the tall bandit had triumphantly announced, Jim Bell's mine was besieged.
