used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But an incongruous telephone line, stretching a zigzag course of rough poles away into the south-eastern distance, told of isolated ranch-houses cuddled in far-away valleys.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading A dark spot moved into view over a southern rise and crept along the top.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But an incongruous telephone line, stretching a zigzag course of rough poles away into the south-eastern distance, told of isolated ranch-houses cuddled in far-away valleys.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MORTON STAMFORD: TENDERFOOT Corporal Faircloth hung up the telephone receiver and strolled to the door, still bridling at the Inspector's ridicule.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading MORTON STAMFORD: TENDERFOOT Corporal Faircloth hung up the telephone receiver and strolled to the door, still bridling at the Inspector's ridicule.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading But an incongruous telephone line, stretching a zigzag course of rough poles away into the south-eastern distance, told of isolated ranch-houses cuddled in far-away valleys.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Faircloth instinctively seized a pair of field-glasses from a case hanging beside the door and focused them on the distant rider, then, content, dropped them dreamily back.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Faircloth instinctively seized a pair of field-glasses from a case hanging beside the door and focused them on the distant rider, then, content, dropped them dreamily back.
bridling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MORTON STAMFORD: TENDERFOOT Corporal Faircloth hung up the telephone receiver and strolled to the door, still bridling at the Inspector's ridicule.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But an incongruous telephone line, stretching a zigzag course of rough poles away into the south-eastern distance, told of isolated ranch-houses cuddled in far-away valleys.
an occurrence of something
From this reading Faircloth instinctively seized a pair of field-glasses from a case hanging beside the door and focused them on the distant rider, then, content, dropped them dreamily back.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading Faircloth instinctively seized a pair of field-glasses from a case hanging beside the door and focused them on the distant rider, then, content, dropped them dreamily back.
CorporalnounUS /ˈkɔːrpərəl/
a noncommissioned officer in the Army or Air Force or Marines
From this reading MORTON STAMFORD: TENDERFOOT Corporal Faircloth hung up the telephone receiver and strolled to the door, still bridling at the Inspector's ridicule.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading But an incongruous telephone line, stretching a zigzag course of rough poles away into the south-eastern distance, told of isolated ranch-houses cuddled in far-away valleys.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading A dark spot moved into view over a southern rise and crept along the top.
cuddledverbUS /ˈkʌdəld/
past form of “cuddle” — move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position
From this reading But an incongruous telephone line, stretching a zigzag course of rough poles away into the south-eastern distance, told of isolated ranch-houses cuddled in far-away valleys.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading But an incongruous telephone line, stretching a zigzag course of rough poles away into the south-eastern distance, told of isolated ranch-houses cuddled in far-away valleys.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading Faircloth instinctively seized a pair of field-glasses from a case hanging beside the door and focused them on the distant rider, then, content, dropped them dreamily back.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading MORTON STAMFORD: TENDERFOOT Corporal Faircloth hung up the telephone receiver and strolled to the door, still bridling at the Inspector's ridicule.
dreamilyadverb
in a dreamy manner
From this reading Faircloth instinctively seized a pair of field-glasses from a case hanging beside the door and focused them on the distant rider, then, content, dropped them dreamily back.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading Faircloth instinctively seized a pair of field-glasses from a case hanging beside the door and focused them on the distant rider, then, content, dropped them dreamily back.
Faircloth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MORTON STAMFORD: TENDERFOOT Corporal Faircloth hung up the telephone receiver and strolled to the door, still bridling at the Inspector's ridicule.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
far-away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But an incongruous telephone line, stretching a zigzag course of rough poles away into the south-eastern distance, told of isolated ranch-houses cuddled in far-away valleys.
field-glasses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Faircloth instinctively seized a pair of field-glasses from a case hanging beside the door and focused them on the distant rider, then, content, dropped them dreamily back.
focusedadjectiveUS /ˈfoʊkəst/
being in focus or brought into focus
From this reading Faircloth instinctively seized a pair of field-glasses from a case hanging beside the door and focused them on the distant rider, then, content, dropped them dreamily back.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Faircloth instinctively seized a pair of field-glasses from a case hanging beside the door and focused them on the distant rider, then, content, dropped them dreamily back.
habitationnounUS /ˌhæbəˈteɪʃən/
the native habitat or home of an animal or plant
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading Faircloth instinctively seized a pair of field-glasses from a case hanging beside the door and focused them on the distant rider, then, content, dropped them dreamily back.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading MORTON STAMFORD: TENDERFOOT Corporal Faircloth hung up the telephone receiver and strolled to the door, still bridling at the Inspector's ridicule.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But an incongruous telephone line, stretching a zigzag course of rough poles away into the south-eastern distance, told of isolated ranch-houses cuddled in far-away valleys.
incongruousadjectiveUS /ˌɪŋˈkɔːŋruːəs/
lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness
From this reading But an incongruous telephone line, stretching a zigzag course of rough poles away into the south-eastern distance, told of isolated ranch-houses cuddled in far-away valleys.
Inspector'snounUS /ˌɪnˈspektərz/
possessive form of “inspector” — a high ranking police officer
From this reading MORTON STAMFORD: TENDERFOOT Corporal Faircloth hung up the telephone receiver and strolled to the door, still bridling at the Inspector's ridicule.
instinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/
as a matter of instinct
From this reading Faircloth instinctively seized a pair of field-glasses from a case hanging beside the door and focused them on the distant rider, then, content, dropped them dreamily back.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But an incongruous telephone line, stretching a zigzag course of rough poles away into the south-eastern distance, told of isolated ranch-houses cuddled in far-away valleys.
isolatedadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsəleɪtəd/
not close together in time
From this reading But an incongruous telephone line, stretching a zigzag course of rough poles away into the south-eastern distance, told of isolated ranch-houses cuddled in far-away valleys.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
MORTONnounUS /ˈmɔːrtən/
United States jazz musician who moved from ragtime to New Orleans jazz (1885-1941)
From this reading MORTON STAMFORD: TENDERFOOT Corporal Faircloth hung up the telephone receiver and strolled to the door, still bridling at the Inspector's ridicule.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading A dark spot moved into view over a southern rise and crept along the top.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A dark spot moved into view over a southern rise and crept along the top.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading Faircloth instinctively seized a pair of field-glasses from a case hanging beside the door and focused them on the distant rider, then, content, dropped them dreamily back.
polesnounUS /poʊlz/
plural of “pole” — a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
From this reading But an incongruous telephone line, stretching a zigzag course of rough poles away into the south-eastern distance, told of isolated ranch-houses cuddled in far-away valleys.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
ranch-houses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But an incongruous telephone line, stretching a zigzag course of rough poles away into the south-eastern distance, told of isolated ranch-houses cuddled in far-away valleys.
receivernounUS /rəˈsiːvər/
set that receives radio or tv signals
From this reading MORTON STAMFORD: TENDERFOOT Corporal Faircloth hung up the telephone receiver and strolled to the door, still bridling at the Inspector's ridicule.
ridernounUS /ˈraɪdər/
a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)
From this reading Faircloth instinctively seized a pair of field-glasses from a case hanging beside the door and focused them on the distant rider, then, content, dropped them dreamily back.
ridiculenounUS /ˈrɪdəkjuːl/
language or behavior intended to mock or humiliate
From this reading MORTON STAMFORD: TENDERFOOT Corporal Faircloth hung up the telephone receiver and strolled to the door, still bridling at the Inspector's ridicule.
move upward
From this reading A dark spot moved into view over a southern rise and crept along the top.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading But an incongruous telephone line, stretching a zigzag course of rough poles away into the south-eastern distance, told of isolated ranch-houses cuddled in far-away valleys.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Faircloth instinctively seized a pair of field-glasses from a case hanging beside the door and focused them on the distant rider, then, content, dropped them dreamily back.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
south-eastadverb
to, toward, or in the southeast
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
south-eastern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But an incongruous telephone line, stretching a zigzag course of rough poles away into the south-eastern distance, told of isolated ranch-houses cuddled in far-away valleys.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading A dark spot moved into view over a southern rise and crept along the top.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
STAMFORD
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MORTON STAMFORD: TENDERFOOT Corporal Faircloth hung up the telephone receiver and strolled to the door, still bridling at the Inspector's ridicule.
not in physical motion
From this reading MORTON STAMFORD: TENDERFOOT Corporal Faircloth hung up the telephone receiver and strolled to the door, still bridling at the Inspector's ridicule.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
stretchingnounUS /ˈstretʃɪŋ/
act of expanding by lengthening or widening
From this reading But an incongruous telephone line, stretching a zigzag course of rough poles away into the south-eastern distance, told of isolated ranch-houses cuddled in far-away valleys.
strolledverbUS /stroʊld/
past form of “stroll” — walk leisurely and with no apparent aim
From this reading MORTON STAMFORD: TENDERFOOT Corporal Faircloth hung up the telephone receiver and strolled to the door, still bridling at the Inspector's ridicule.
telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/
electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds
From this reading MORTON STAMFORD: TENDERFOOT Corporal Faircloth hung up the telephone receiver and strolled to the door, still bridling at the Inspector's ridicule.
TENDERFOOTnoun
an inexperienced person (especially someone inexperienced in outdoor living)
From this reading MORTON STAMFORD: TENDERFOOT Corporal Faircloth hung up the telephone receiver and strolled to the door, still bridling at the Inspector's ridicule.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MORTON STAMFORD: TENDERFOOT Corporal Faircloth hung up the telephone receiver and strolled to the door, still bridling at the Inspector's ridicule.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Faircloth instinctively seized a pair of field-glasses from a case hanging beside the door and focused them on the distant rider, then, content, dropped them dreamily back.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Faircloth instinctively seized a pair of field-glasses from a case hanging beside the door and focused them on the distant rider, then, content, dropped them dreamily back.
thoughtfullyadverbUS /ˈθɔːtfəli/
in a thoughtful manner
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading MORTON STAMFORD: TENDERFOOT Corporal Faircloth hung up the telephone receiver and strolled to the door, still bridling at the Inspector's ridicule.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading But an incongruous telephone line, stretching a zigzag course of rough poles away into the south-eastern distance, told of isolated ranch-houses cuddled in far-away valleys.
the upper part of anything
From this reading A dark spot moved into view over a southern rise and crept along the top.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading MORTON STAMFORD: TENDERFOOT Corporal Faircloth hung up the telephone receiver and strolled to the door, still bridling at the Inspector's ridicule.
valleysnounUS /ˈvæliz/
plural of “valley” — a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading But an incongruous telephone line, stretching a zigzag course of rough poles away into the south-eastern distance, told of isolated ranch-houses cuddled in far-away valleys.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading A dark spot moved into view over a southern rise and crept along the top.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
in or at the place that
From this reading For several minutes he stood looking thoughtfully out on the familiar prairie scene, where not another spot of human life or habitation was visible as far as the dark line of hills to the south-east.
zigzagverbUS /ˈzɪɡzæɡ/
travel along a zigzag path
From this reading But an incongruous telephone line, stretching a zigzag course of rough poles away into the south-eastern distance, told of isolated ranch-houses cuddled in far-away valleys.
