used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading To reach the Basin they had ridden through the Gap--almost through the Gap--but Death had cut their journey short.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In a roundabout way, these riders had been told that men they sought as outlaws could be found in Bryant's Basin.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
BasinnounUS /ˈbeɪsən/
a bowl-shaped vessel; usually used for holding food or liquids
From this reading In a roundabout way, these riders had been told that men they sought as outlaws could be found in Bryant's Basin.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In a roundabout way, these riders had been told that men they sought as outlaws could be found in Bryant's Basin.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Killers, waiting behind protecting rocks, had fired without warning.
Bryant's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading To reach the Basin they had ridden through the Gap--almost through the Gap--but Death had cut their journey short.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading The dead men had been Texas Rangers.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading To reach the Basin they had ridden through the Gap--almost through the Gap--but Death had cut their journey short.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading Killers, waiting behind protecting rocks, had fired without warning.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
plural of “form” — the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
set up or found
From this reading In a roundabout way, these riders had been told that men they sought as outlaws could be found in Bryant's Basin.
GAPnounUS /ɡæp/
a conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading To reach the Basin they had ridden through the Gap--almost through the Gap--but Death had cut their journey short.
KillersnounUS /ˈkɪlərz/
plural of “killer” — someone who causes the death of a person or animal
From this reading Killers, waiting behind protecting rocks, had fired without warning.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
lifelessadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪfləs/
deprived of life; no longer living
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
litteredadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtərd/
filled or scattered with a disorderly accumulation of objects or rubbish
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
lurkedverbUS /lɜːrkt/
past form of “lurk” — lie in wait, lie in ambush, behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
the force of workers available
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
outdoorsadverbUS /ˈaʊtˈdɔːrz/
outside a building
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
outlawsnounUS /ˈaʊtlɔːz/
plural of “outlaw” — someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
From this reading In a roundabout way, these riders had been told that men they sought as outlaws could be found in Bryant's Basin.
pitchnounUS /pɪtʃ/
the property of sound that varies with variation in the frequency of vibration
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
protectingadjectiveUS /prəˈtektɪŋ/
shielding (or designed to shield) against harm or discomfort
From this reading Killers, waiting behind protecting rocks, had fired without warning.
RangersnounUS /ˈreɪndʒərz/
plural of “ranger” — a member of the Texas state highway patrol; formerly a mounted lawman who maintained order on the frontier
From this reading The dead men had been Texas Rangers.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading To reach the Basin they had ridden through the Gap--almost through the Gap--but Death had cut their journey short.
recentlyadverbUS /ˈriːsəntli/
in the recent past
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
riddenverbUS /ˈrɪdən/
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading To reach the Basin they had ridden through the Gap--almost through the Gap--but Death had cut their journey short.
ridersnounUS /ˈraɪdərz/
plural of “rider” — a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)
From this reading In a roundabout way, these riders had been told that men they sought as outlaws could be found in Bryant's Basin.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Killers, waiting behind protecting rocks, had fired without warning.
roundaboutadjectiveUS /ˈraʊndəbaʊt/
marked by obliqueness or indirection in speech or conduct
From this reading In a roundabout way, these riders had been told that men they sought as outlaws could be found in Bryant's Basin.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
hit with a missile from a weapon
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading To reach the Basin they had ridden through the Gap--almost through the Gap--but Death had cut their journey short.
that is looked for
From this reading In a roundabout way, these riders had been told that men they sought as outlaws could be found in Bryant's Basin.
successive (without a break)
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
TexasnounUS /ˈteksəs/
the second largest state; located in southwestern United States on the Gulf of Mexico
From this reading The dead men had been Texas Rangers.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading To reach the Basin they had ridden through the Gap--almost through the Gap--but Death had cut their journey short.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading In a roundabout way, these riders had been told that men they sought as outlaws could be found in Bryant's Basin.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In a roundabout way, these riders had been told that men they sought as outlaws could be found in Bryant's Basin.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading To reach the Basin they had ridden through the Gap--almost through the Gap--but Death had cut their journey short.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading In a roundabout way, these riders had been told that men they sought as outlaws could be found in Bryant's Basin.
tunedverbUS /tuːnd/
past form of “tune” — adjust for (better) functioning
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
vitaladjectiveUS /ˈvaɪtəl/
urgently needed; absolutely necessary
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Killers, waiting behind protecting rocks, had fired without warning.
a message informing of danger
From this reading Killers, waiting behind protecting rocks, had fired without warning.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading In a roundabout way, these riders had been told that men they sought as outlaws could be found in Bryant's Basin.
which person or people
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
belonging to which person
From this reading THE GAP The lifeless forms that littered the floor of Bryant's Gap had but recently been men who lived a vital, hard life in the outdoors; men who could shoot fast and straight, whose every sense was tuned to a pitch that made them aware of any danger that lurked.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Killers, waiting behind protecting rocks, had fired without warning.
