Chapter III · A Serious Reverse

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

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “No trouble about that, boy,” replied Pap Byers.

on foot; walking

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

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

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

(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 When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading The Indians always did their horse-stealing on foot, and there was no good reason why white men should not imitate their example.

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

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

past form of “attack” — launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

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

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

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

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

a youthful male person

From this reading “No trouble about that, boy,” replied Pap Byers.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

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

From this reading “No trouble about that, boy,” replied Pap Byers.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

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

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading The Indians always did their horse-stealing on foot, and there was no good reason why white men should not imitate their example.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

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

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

an item of information that is typical of a class or group

From this reading The Indians always did their horse-stealing on foot, and there was no good reason why white men should not imitate their example.

amounts paid for goods and services that may be currently tax deductible (as opposed to capital expenditures)

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading The Indians always did their horse-stealing on foot, and there was no good reason why white men should not imitate their example.

Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

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

From this reading The Indians always did their horse-stealing on foot, and there was no good reason why white men should not imitate their example.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

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

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

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

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

past form of “hope” — expect and wish

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

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

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

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

From this reading The Indians always did their horse-stealing on foot, and there was no good reason why white men should not imitate their example.

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

From this reading “We’ll find Injuns enough, I warrant ye.

reproduce someone's behavior or looks

From this reading The Indians always did their horse-stealing on foot, and there was no good reason why white men should not imitate their example.

of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India

From this reading The Indians always did their horse-stealing on foot, and there was no good reason why white men should not imitate their example.

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

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

range of what one can know or understand

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

plural of “marauder” — someone who attacks in search of booty

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

the force of workers available

From this reading The Indians always did their horse-stealing on foot, and there was no good reason why white men should not imitate their example.

a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

not any; not one

From this reading The Indians always did their horse-stealing on foot, and there was no good reason why white men should not imitate their example.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The Indians always did their horse-stealing on foot, and there was no good reason why white men should not imitate their example.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

worthless or oversimplified ideas

From this reading “No trouble about that, boy,” replied Pap Byers.

past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

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

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading The Indians always did their horse-stealing on foot, and there was no good reason why white men should not imitate their example.

mount again

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading “No trouble about that, boy,” replied Pap Byers.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading The Indians always did their horse-stealing on foot, and there was no good reason why white men should not imitate their example.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

in the near future

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

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

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

in or at that place or location

From this reading The Indians always did their horse-stealing on foot, and there was no good reason why white men should not imitate their example.

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

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

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

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

a track or mark left by something that has passed

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

a vagrant

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

a source of difficulty

From this reading “No trouble about that, boy,” replied Pap Byers.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

precisely as stated

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

a writ from a court commanding police to perform specified acts

From this reading “We’ll find Injuns enough, I warrant ye.

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

From this reading The Indians always did their horse-stealing on foot, and there was no good reason why white men should not imitate their example.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

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

From this reading “We’ll find Injuns enough, I warrant ye.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

at the time that

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

a Caucasian

From this reading The Indians always did their horse-stealing on foot, and there was no good reason why white men should not imitate their example.

which person or people

From this reading When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some Indian horse-owners.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading The Indians always did their horse-stealing on foot, and there was no good reason why white men should not imitate their example.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading “That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp many a mile, afore we came up on a village.”

an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person

From this reading “We’ll find Injuns enough, I warrant ye.