used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They might exist for a time on the bodies of their animals, but they must perish without water.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Daring Exploit of Kit Carson and Lieutenant Beale--General Kearney Saved.
plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading They might exist for a time on the bodies of their animals, but they must perish without water.
Beale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Daring Exploit of Kit Carson and Lieutenant Beale--General Kearney Saved.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The situation of General Kearney and his men could not have been more desperate.
plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading They might exist for a time on the bodies of their animals, but they must perish without water.
possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
From this reading They were completely surrounded by the brave California Mexicans.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They might exist for a time on the bodies of their animals, but they must perish without water.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They were completely surrounded by the brave California Mexicans.
CalifornianounUS /ˌkæləˈfɔːrnjə/
a state in the western United States on the Pacific; the 3rd largest state; known for earthquakes
From this reading They were completely surrounded by the brave California Mexicans.
CarsonnounUS /ˈkɑːrsən/
United States biologist remembered for her opposition to the use of pesticides that were hazardous to wildlife (1907-1964)
From this reading Daring Exploit of Kit Carson and Lieutenant Beale--General Kearney Saved.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading They were completely surrounded by the brave California Mexicans.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The situation of General Kearney and his men could not have been more desperate.
DaringnounUS /ˈderɪŋ/
a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy
From this reading Daring Exploit of Kit Carson and Lieutenant Beale--General Kearney Saved.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading The situation of General Kearney and his men could not have been more desperate.
existverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪst/
have an existence, be extant
From this reading They might exist for a time on the bodies of their animals, but they must perish without water.
ExploitverbUS /ˈeksplɔɪt/
use or manipulate to one's advantage
From this reading Daring Exploit of Kit Carson and Lieutenant Beale--General Kearney Saved.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They might exist for a time on the bodies of their animals, but they must perish without water.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading Daring Exploit of Kit Carson and Lieutenant Beale--General Kearney Saved.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The only subsistence they had were their mules, and the water was insufficient to meet their wants.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The situation of General Kearney and his men could not have been more desperate.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The situation of General Kearney and his men could not have been more desperate.
insufficientadjectiveUS /ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃənt/
of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement
From this reading The only subsistence they had were their mules, and the water was insufficient to meet their wants.
Kearney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Daring Exploit of Kit Carson and Lieutenant Beale--General Kearney Saved.
KitnounUS /kɪt/
a case for containing a set of articles
From this reading Daring Exploit of Kit Carson and Lieutenant Beale--General Kearney Saved.
a commissioned military officer
From this reading Daring Exploit of Kit Carson and Lieutenant Beale--General Kearney Saved.
come together
From this reading The only subsistence they had were their mules, and the water was insufficient to meet their wants.
the force of workers available
From this reading The situation of General Kearney and his men could not have been more desperate.
MexicansnounUS /ˈmeksɪkənz/
plural of “mexican” — a native or inhabitant of Mexico
From this reading They were completely surrounded by the brave California Mexicans.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading They might exist for a time on the bodies of their animals, but they must perish without water.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The situation of General Kearney and his men could not have been more desperate.
mulesnounUS /mjuːlz/
plural of “mule” — hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse; usually sterile
From this reading The only subsistence they had were their mules, and the water was insufficient to meet their wants.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading They might exist for a time on the bodies of their animals, but they must perish without water.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The situation of General Kearney and his men could not have been more desperate.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Daring Exploit of Kit Carson and Lieutenant Beale--General Kearney Saved.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They might exist for a time on the bodies of their animals, but they must perish without water.
and nothing more
From this reading The only subsistence they had were their mules, and the water was insufficient to meet their wants.
perishverbUS /ˈperɪʃ/
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading They might exist for a time on the bodies of their animals, but they must perish without water.
rescued; especially from the power and consequences of sin
From this reading Daring Exploit of Kit Carson and Lieutenant Beale--General Kearney Saved.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading The situation of General Kearney and his men could not have been more desperate.
subsistencenounUS /səbˈsɪstəns/
minimal (or marginal) resources for subsisting
From this reading The only subsistence they had were their mules, and the water was insufficient to meet their wants.
confined on all sides
From this reading They were completely surrounded by the brave California Mexicans.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The situation of General Kearney and his men could not have been more desperate.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The only subsistence they had were their mules, and the water was insufficient to meet their wants.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The only subsistence they had were their mules, and the water was insufficient to meet their wants.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading They might exist for a time on the bodies of their animals, but they must perish without water.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The only subsistence they had were their mules, and the water was insufficient to meet their wants.
plural of “want” — a state of extreme poverty
From this reading The only subsistence they had were their mules, and the water was insufficient to meet their wants.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The only subsistence they had were their mules, and the water was insufficient to meet their wants.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading The only subsistence they had were their mules, and the water was insufficient to meet their wants.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The only subsistence they had were their mules, and the water was insufficient to meet their wants.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading They might exist for a time on the bodies of their animals, but they must perish without water.
