Chapter II · Sheep-Flood

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

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The rolling stock of this branch, except for the cattle cars, was nothing to brag about, but it was better than bumping over a rutty road on a four-horse stage for thirty miles.

(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

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

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

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

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

a mark to indicate a direction or relation

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

cases used to carry belongings when traveling

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading If there ever had been a Medicine Tree, not even the roots remained.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading The rolling stock of this branch, except for the cattle cars, was nothing to brag about, but it was better than bumping over a rutty road on a four-horse stage for thirty miles.

show off

From this reading The rolling stock of this branch, except for the cattle cars, was nothing to brag about, but it was better than bumping over a rutty road on a four-horse stage for thirty miles.

a division of some larger or more complex organization

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

-ing form of “bump” — knock against with force or violence

From this reading The rolling stock of this branch, except for the cattle cars, was nothing to brag about, but it was better than bumping over a rutty road on a four-horse stage for thirty miles.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The rolling stock of this branch, except for the cattle cars, was nothing to brag about, but it was better than bumping over a rutty road on a four-horse stage for thirty miles.

a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

plural of “car” — a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

made troubled or apprehensive or distressed in appearance

From this reading The origin of Medicine Tree was rather clouded.

a collection of things that have been combined; an assemblage of separate parts or qualities

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

(United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

divisible by two

From this reading If there ever had been a Medicine Tree, not even the roots remained.

at any time

From this reading If there ever had been a Medicine Tree, not even the roots remained.

apart from; not including

From this reading The rolling stock of this branch, except for the cattle cars, was nothing to brag about, but it was better than bumping over a rutty road on a four-horse stage for thirty miles.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The rolling stock of this branch, except for the cattle cars, was nothing to brag about, but it was better than bumping over a rutty road on a four-horse stage for thirty miles.

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

From this reading The rolling stock of this branch, except for the cattle cars, was nothing to brag about, but it was better than bumping over a rutty road on a four-horse stage for thirty miles.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

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

From this reading If there ever had been a Medicine Tree, not even the roots remained.

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

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

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

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

the aggregate of past events

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If there ever had been a Medicine Tree, not even the roots remained.

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

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

a person who inhabits a particular place

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

stopping and starting at irregular intervals

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

relating to or applicable to or concerned with the administration of a city or town or district rather than a larger area

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

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 Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

most important element

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques

From this reading The origin of Medicine Tree was rather clouded.

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

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

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

make or become more narrow or restricted

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

not any; not one

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading If there ever had been a Medicine Tree, not even the roots remained.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading The rolling stock of this branch, except for the cattle cars, was nothing to brag about, but it was better than bumping over a rutty road on a four-horse stage for thirty miles.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The origin of Medicine Tree was rather clouded.

superlative of “old” — (used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

the place where something begins, where it springs into being

From this reading The origin of Medicine Tree was rather clouded.

above and across; more than

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

coated with paint

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

suggesting or suitable for a picture; pretty as a picture

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

on the contrary

From this reading The origin of Medicine Tree was rather clouded.

past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading If there ever had been a Medicine Tree, not even the roots remained.

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

uttered with a trill

From this reading The rolling stock of this branch, except for the cattle cars, was nothing to brag about, but it was better than bumping over a rutty road on a four-horse stage for thirty miles.

the condition of belonging to a particular place or group by virtue of social or ethnic or cultural lineage

From this reading If there ever had been a Medicine Tree, not even the roots remained.

(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

full of ruts

From this reading The rolling stock of this branch, except for the cattle cars, was nothing to brag about, but it was better than bumping over a rutty road on a four-horse stage for thirty miles.

a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

a person who smokes tobacco

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

any distinct time period in a sequence of events

From this reading The rolling stock of this branch, except for the cattle cars, was nothing to brag about, but it was better than bumping over a rutty road on a four-horse stage for thirty miles.

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

From this reading The rolling stock of this branch, except for the cattle cars, was nothing to brag about, but it was better than bumping over a rutty road on a four-horse stage for thirty miles.

plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The rolling stock of this branch, except for the cattle cars, was nothing to brag about, but it was better than bumping over a rutty road on a four-horse stage for thirty miles.

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

From this reading The origin of Medicine Tree was rather clouded.

in or at that place or location

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

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

From this reading The rolling stock of this branch, except for the cattle cars, was nothing to brag about, but it was better than bumping over a rutty road on a four-horse stage for thirty miles.

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

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading The origin of Medicine Tree was rather clouded.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

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

From this reading The origin of Medicine Tree was rather clouded.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

at the time that

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Thirty miles south was the town of Broad Arrow, the county seat, on the main line of a railroad, from which a branch road served Painted Valley; a branch thirty miles long, running an intermittent mixed-train service--one combination parlour car, smoker and baggage car, the rest cattle cars.

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was there when the oldest inhabitant arrived, according to local history, a half-adobe, half-frame town, with no structure over two stories high, narrow streets, picturesque, in a way.