used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading YUMA RIDES BEHIND A MASKED MAN The Lone Ranger almost fired instinctively at Yuma.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading YUMA RIDES BEHIND A MASKED MAN The Lone Ranger almost fired instinctively at Yuma.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading YUMA RIDES BEHIND A MASKED MAN The Lone Ranger almost fired instinctively at Yuma.
BEHINDprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading YUMA RIDES BEHIND A MASKED MAN The Lone Ranger almost fired instinctively at Yuma.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His finger tightened on the trigger, but he caught himself in time.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading His finger tightened on the trigger, but he caught himself in time.
rid of obstructions
From this reading The cowboy stood entirely clear of the rocks that had protected him, holding his gun point-blank on the masked man.
coveringnounUS /ˈkʌvərɪŋ/
a natural object that covers or envelops
From this reading For a moment the two stood there tense, each one covering the other, neither moving, neither firing.
cowboynounUS /ˈkaʊbɔɪ/
a hired hand who tends cattle and performs other duties on horseback
From this reading The cowboy stood entirely clear of the rocks that had protected him, holding his gun point-blank on the masked man.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading For a moment the two stood there tense, each one covering the other, neither moving, neither firing.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The cowboy stood entirely clear of the rocks that had protected him, holding his gun point-blank on the masked man.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading His finger tightened on the trigger, but he caught himself in time.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading YUMA RIDES BEHIND A MASKED MAN The Lone Ranger almost fired instinctively at Yuma.
firingnounUS /ˈfaɪrɪŋ/
the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy
From this reading For a moment the two stood there tense, each one covering the other, neither moving, neither firing.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a moment the two stood there tense, each one covering the other, neither moving, neither firing.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading The cowboy stood entirely clear of the rocks that had protected him, holding his gun point-blank on the masked man.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The cowboy stood entirely clear of the rocks that had protected him, holding his gun point-blank on the masked man.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His finger tightened on the trigger, but he caught himself in time.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The cowboy stood entirely clear of the rocks that had protected him, holding his gun point-blank on the masked man.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading His finger tightened on the trigger, but he caught himself in time.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His finger tightened on the trigger, but he caught himself in time.
the act of retaining something
From this reading The cowboy stood entirely clear of the rocks that had protected him, holding his gun point-blank on the masked man.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His finger tightened on the trigger, but he caught himself in time.
instinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/
as a matter of instinct
From this reading YUMA RIDES BEHIND A MASKED MAN The Lone Ranger almost fired instinctively at Yuma.
immediately past
From this reading Yuma's last, quick shot went wide.
LoneadjectiveUS /loʊn/
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading YUMA RIDES BEHIND A MASKED MAN The Lone Ranger almost fired instinctively at Yuma.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading YUMA RIDES BEHIND A MASKED MAN The Lone Ranger almost fired instinctively at Yuma.
MASKEDadjectiveUS /mæskt/
having its true character concealed with the intent of misleading
From this reading YUMA RIDES BEHIND A MASKED MAN The Lone Ranger almost fired instinctively at Yuma.
a particular point in time
From this reading For a moment the two stood there tense, each one covering the other, neither moving, neither firing.
in motion
From this reading For a moment the two stood there tense, each one covering the other, neither moving, neither firing.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading For a moment the two stood there tense, each one covering the other, neither moving, neither firing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The cowboy stood entirely clear of the rocks that had protected him, holding his gun point-blank on the masked man.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His finger tightened on the trigger, but he caught himself in time.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For a moment the two stood there tense, each one covering the other, neither moving, neither firing.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading For a moment the two stood there tense, each one covering the other, neither moving, neither firing.
point-blankadjective
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading The cowboy stood entirely clear of the rocks that had protected him, holding his gun point-blank on the masked man.
protectedadjectiveUS /prəˈtektɪd/
kept safe or defended from danger or injury or loss
From this reading The cowboy stood entirely clear of the rocks that had protected him, holding his gun point-blank on the masked man.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading Yuma's last, quick shot went wide.
RangernounUS /ˈreɪndʒər/
a member of the Texas state highway patrol; formerly a mounted lawman who maintained order on the frontier
From this reading YUMA RIDES BEHIND A MASKED MAN The Lone Ranger almost fired instinctively at Yuma.
RIDESnounUS /raɪdz/
plural of “ride” — a journey in a vehicle (usually an automobile)
From this reading YUMA RIDES BEHIND A MASKED MAN The Lone Ranger almost fired instinctively at Yuma.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading The cowboy stood entirely clear of the rocks that had protected him, holding his gun point-blank on the masked man.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading Yuma's last, quick shot went wide.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The cowboy stood entirely clear of the rocks that had protected him, holding his gun point-blank on the masked man.
tensenounUS /tens/
a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
From this reading For a moment the two stood there tense, each one covering the other, neither moving, neither firing.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The cowboy stood entirely clear of the rocks that had protected him, holding his gun point-blank on the masked man.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading YUMA RIDES BEHIND A MASKED MAN The Lone Ranger almost fired instinctively at Yuma.
in or at that place or location
From this reading For a moment the two stood there tense, each one covering the other, neither moving, neither firing.
tightenedverbUS /ˈtaɪtənd/
past form of “tighten” — make tight or tighter
From this reading His finger tightened on the trigger, but he caught himself in time.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading His finger tightened on the trigger, but he caught himself in time.
triggerverbUS /ˈtrɪɡər/
put in motion or move to act
From this reading His finger tightened on the trigger, but he caught himself in time.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading For a moment the two stood there tense, each one covering the other, neither moving, neither firing.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Yuma's last, quick shot went wide.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Yuma's last, quick shot went wide.
YUMAnounUS /ˈjuːmə/
a member of the North American Indian people of Arizona and adjacent Mexico and California
From this reading YUMA RIDES BEHIND A MASKED MAN The Lone Ranger almost fired instinctively at Yuma.
Yuma'snounUS /ˈjuːməz/
possessive form of “yuma” — a member of the North American Indian people of Arizona and adjacent Mexico and California
From this reading Yuma's last, quick shot went wide.
