used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The knoll sloped into a shallow gulley that was about three hundred yards long by two hundred wide.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The knoll sloped into a shallow gulley that was about three hundred yards long by two hundred wide.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading His practiced hunter's eye told him that they were already suspicious; they had either seen Tad or else they had seen Joe and Tad.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
antelopenounUS /ˈæntəloʊp/
graceful Old World ruminant with long legs and horns directed upward and backward; includes gazelles; springboks; impalas; addax; gerenuks; blackbucks; dik-diks
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
buckverbUS /bʌk/
to strive with determination
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The knoll sloped into a shallow gulley that was about three hundred yards long by two hundred wide.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading "They were a lot closer before," Tad whispered.
descriptionsnounUS /dɪˈskrɪpʃənz/
plural of “description” — a statement that represents something in words
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
one or the other of two
From this reading His practiced hunter's eye told him that they were already suspicious; they had either seen Tad or else they had seen Joe and Tad.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His practiced hunter's eye told him that they were already suspicious; they had either seen Tad or else they had seen Joe and Tad.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading They were grazing nervously near the far end of the gully, hopelessly out of range.
the organ of sight
From this reading His practiced hunter's eye told him that they were already suspicious; they had either seen Tad or else they had seen Joe and Tad.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading They were grazing nervously near the far end of the gully, hopelessly out of range.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
grazingnounUS /ˈɡreɪzɪŋ/
the act of grazing
From this reading They were grazing nervously near the far end of the gully, hopelessly out of range.
gulley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The knoll sloped into a shallow gulley that was about three hundred yards long by two hundred wide.
gullynounUS /ˈɡʌli/
deep ditch cut by running water (especially after a prolonged downpour)
From this reading They were grazing nervously near the far end of the gully, hopelessly out of range.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His practiced hunter's eye told him that they were already suspicious; they had either seen Tad or else they had seen Joe and Tad.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His practiced hunter's eye told him that they were already suspicious; they had either seen Tad or else they had seen Joe and Tad.
hopelesslyadverbUS /ˈhoʊpləsli/
in a hopeless manner
From this reading They were grazing nervously near the far end of the gully, hopelessly out of range.
ten 10s
From this reading The knoll sloped into a shallow gulley that was about three hundred yards long by two hundred wide.
hunter'snounUS /ˈhʌntərz/
possessive form of “hunter” — someone who hunts game
From this reading His practiced hunter's eye told him that they were already suspicious; they had either seen Tad or else they had seen Joe and Tad.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The knoll sloped into a shallow gulley that was about three hundred yards long by two hundred wide.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
knollnounUS /noʊl/
a small natural hill
From this reading The knoll sloped into a shallow gulley that was about three hundred yards long by two hundred wide.
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 The knoll sloped into a shallow gulley that was about three hundred yards long by two hundred wide.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading "They were a lot closer before," Tad whispered.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading They were grazing nervously near the far end of the gully, hopelessly out of range.
nervouslyadverbUS /ˈnɜːrvəsli/
in an anxiously nervous manner
From this reading They were grazing nervously near the far end of the gully, hopelessly out of range.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading They were grazing nervously near the far end of the gully, hopelessly out of range.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
practicedadjectiveUS /ˈpræktəst/
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
From this reading His practiced hunter's eye told him that they were already suspicious; they had either seen Tad or else they had seen Joe and Tad.
pronghorns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading They were grazing nervously near the far end of the gully, hopelessly out of range.
cut with a saw
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
shallowadjectiveUS /ˈʃæloʊ/
lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center
From this reading The knoll sloped into a shallow gulley that was about three hundred yards long by two hundred wide.
slopedadjective
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading The knoll sloped into a shallow gulley that was about three hundred yards long by two hundred wide.
suspiciousadjectiveUS /səˈspɪʃəs/
openly distrustful and unwilling to confide
From this reading His practiced hunter's eye told him that they were already suspicious; they had either seen Tad or else they had seen Joe and Tad.
TadnounUS /tæd/
a slight amount or degree of difference
From this reading His practiced hunter's eye told him that they were already suspicious; they had either seen Tad or else they had seen Joe and Tad.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The knoll sloped into a shallow gulley that was about three hundred yards long by two hundred wide.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The knoll sloped into a shallow gulley that was about three hundred yards long by two hundred wide.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The knoll sloped into a shallow gulley that was about three hundred yards long by two hundred wide.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading His practiced hunter's eye told him that they were already suspicious; they had either seen Tad or else they had seen Joe and Tad.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The knoll sloped into a shallow gulley that was about three hundred yards long by two hundred wide.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The knoll sloped into a shallow gulley that was about three hundred yards long by two hundred wide.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading "They were a lot closer before," Tad whispered.
which person or people
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The knoll sloped into a shallow gulley that was about three hundred yards long by two hundred wide.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Joe saw the animals, a big buck with three does, and though he himself had never before seen any, he knew from the descriptions of people who had been west that they were pronghorns, or antelope.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading The knoll sloped into a shallow gulley that was about three hundred yards long by two hundred wide.
