used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading APACHES There cannot be a war without violence and bloodshed, nor can all the losses be on one side.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading APACHES There cannot be a war without violence and bloodshed, nor can all the losses be on one side.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading APACHES There cannot be a war without violence and bloodshed, nor can all the losses be on one side.
APACHESnounUS /əˈpætʃiz/
plural of “apache” — any member of Athapaskan tribes that migrated to the southwestern desert (from Arizona to Texas and south into Mexico); fought a losing battle from 1861 to 1886 with the United States and were resettled in Oklahoma
From this reading APACHES There cannot be a war without violence and bloodshed, nor can all the losses be on one side.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A posse of four men had ridden into their stronghold and offered to give them battle; and then, when they had refused and held fast to Indian tactics, Death had risen up and snatched away Red.
Bassett
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Scarboroughs had killed Sharps and old Henry Bassett; but now the scales had turned and Red, their finest rifle-shot, had been shot down by Winchester Bassett.
battalionsnounUS /bəˈtæljənz/
plural of “battalion” — an army unit usually consisting of a headquarters and three or more companies
From this reading No matter which side is right, or which has the strongest battalions, Death holds a level hand.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading A posse of four men had ridden into their stronghold and offered to give them battle; and then, when they had refused and held fast to Indian tactics, Death had risen up and snatched away Red.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading APACHES There cannot be a war without violence and bloodshed, nor can all the losses be on one side.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The Scarboroughs had killed Sharps and old Henry Bassett; but now the scales had turned and Red, their finest rifle-shot, had been shot down by Winchester Bassett.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Yet even with the body of their brother before them the Scarboroughs declined to fight.
bloodshednounUS /ˈblʌdʃed/
the shedding of blood resulting in murder
From this reading APACHES There cannot be a war without violence and bloodshed, nor can all the losses be on one side.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Yet even with the body of their brother before them the Scarboroughs declined to fight.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading Yet even with the body of their brother before them the Scarboroughs declined to fight.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Scarboroughs had killed Sharps and old Henry Bassett; but now the scales had turned and Red, their finest rifle-shot, had been shot down by Winchester Bassett.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Scarboroughs had killed Sharps and old Henry Bassett; but now the scales had turned and Red, their finest rifle-shot, had been shot down by Winchester Bassett.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading APACHES There cannot be a war without violence and bloodshed, nor can all the losses be on one side.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading APACHES There cannot be a war without violence and bloodshed, nor can all the losses be on one side.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading No matter which side is right, or which has the strongest battalions, Death holds a level hand.
declinedverbUS /dɪˈklaɪnd/
past form of “decline” — grow worse
From this reading Yet even with the body of their brother before them the Scarboroughs declined to fight.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The Scarboroughs had killed Sharps and old Henry Bassett; but now the scales had turned and Red, their finest rifle-shot, had been shot down by Winchester Bassett.
divisible by two
From this reading Yet even with the body of their brother before them the Scarboroughs declined to fight.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading A posse of four men had ridden into their stronghold and offered to give them battle; and then, when they had refused and held fast to Indian tactics, Death had risen up and snatched away Red.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading Yet even with the body of their brother before them the Scarboroughs declined to fight.
finestadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnəst/
superlative of “fine” — being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading The Scarboroughs had killed Sharps and old Henry Bassett; but now the scales had turned and Red, their finest rifle-shot, had been shot down by Winchester Bassett.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading A posse of four men had ridden into their stronghold and offered to give them battle; and then, when they had refused and held fast to Indian tactics, Death had risen up and snatched away Red.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading A posse of four men had ridden into their stronghold and offered to give them battle; and then, when they had refused and held fast to Indian tactics, Death had risen up and snatched away Red.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Scarboroughs had killed Sharps and old Henry Bassett; but now the scales had turned and Red, their finest rifle-shot, had been shot down by Winchester Bassett.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading No matter which side is right, or which has the strongest battalions, Death holds a level hand.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading No matter which side is right, or which has the strongest battalions, Death holds a level hand.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading A posse of four men had ridden into their stronghold and offered to give them battle; and then, when they had refused and held fast to Indian tactics, Death had risen up and snatched away Red.
a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second
From this reading The Scarboroughs had killed Sharps and old Henry Bassett; but now the scales had turned and Red, their finest rifle-shot, had been shot down by Winchester Bassett.
holdsnounUS /hoʊldz/
plural of “hold” — the act of grasping
From this reading No matter which side is right, or which has the strongest battalions, Death holds a level hand.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading A posse of four men had ridden into their stronghold and offered to give them battle; and then, when they had refused and held fast to Indian tactics, Death had risen up and snatched away Red.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A posse of four men had ridden into their stronghold and offered to give them battle; and then, when they had refused and held fast to Indian tactics, Death had risen up and snatched away Red.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading No matter which side is right, or which has the strongest battalions, Death holds a level hand.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading The Scarboroughs had killed Sharps and old Henry Bassett; but now the scales had turned and Red, their finest rifle-shot, had been shot down by Winchester Bassett.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading No matter which side is right, or which has the strongest battalions, Death holds a level hand.
lossesnounUS /ˈlɔːsəz/
something lost (especially money lost at gambling)
From this reading APACHES There cannot be a war without violence and bloodshed, nor can all the losses be on one side.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading No matter which side is right, or which has the strongest battalions, Death holds a level hand.
the force of workers available
From this reading A posse of four men had ridden into their stronghold and offered to give them battle; and then, when they had refused and held fast to Indian tactics, Death had risen up and snatched away Red.
not any; not one
From this reading No matter which side is right, or which has the strongest battalions, Death holds a level hand.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading APACHES There cannot be a war without violence and bloodshed, nor can all the losses be on one side.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The Scarboroughs had killed Sharps and old Henry Bassett; but now the scales had turned and Red, their finest rifle-shot, had been shot down by Winchester Bassett.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A posse of four men had ridden into their stronghold and offered to give them battle; and then, when they had refused and held fast to Indian tactics, Death had risen up and snatched away Red.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading A posse of four men had ridden into their stronghold and offered to give them battle; and then, when they had refused and held fast to Indian tactics, Death had risen up and snatched away Red.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The Scarboroughs had killed Sharps and old Henry Bassett; but now the scales had turned and Red, their finest rifle-shot, had been shot down by Winchester Bassett.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading APACHES There cannot be a war without violence and bloodshed, nor can all the losses be on one side.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading APACHES There cannot be a war without violence and bloodshed, nor can all the losses be on one side.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading No matter which side is right, or which has the strongest battalions, Death holds a level hand.
possenounUS /ˈpɑːsi/
a temporary police force
From this reading A posse of four men had ridden into their stronghold and offered to give them battle; and then, when they had refused and held fast to Indian tactics, Death had risen up and snatched away Red.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading The Scarboroughs had killed Sharps and old Henry Bassett; but now the scales had turned and Red, their finest rifle-shot, had been shot down by Winchester Bassett.
past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards
From this reading A posse of four men had ridden into their stronghold and offered to give them battle; and then, when they had refused and held fast to Indian tactics, Death had risen up and snatched away Red.
riddenverbUS /ˈrɪdən/
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading A posse of four men had ridden into their stronghold and offered to give them battle; and then, when they had refused and held fast to Indian tactics, Death had risen up and snatched away Red.
rifle-shot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Scarboroughs had killed Sharps and old Henry Bassett; but now the scales had turned and Red, their finest rifle-shot, had been shot down by Winchester Bassett.
precisely, exactly
From this reading No matter which side is right, or which has the strongest battalions, Death holds a level hand.
risenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪzən/
(of e.g. celestial bodies) above the horizon
From this reading A posse of four men had ridden into their stronghold and offered to give them battle; and then, when they had refused and held fast to Indian tactics, Death had risen up and snatched away Red.
scalesnounUS /skeɪlz/
plural of “scale” — an ordered reference standard
From this reading The Scarboroughs had killed Sharps and old Henry Bassett; but now the scales had turned and Red, their finest rifle-shot, had been shot down by Winchester Bassett.
Scarboroughs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Scarboroughs had killed Sharps and old Henry Bassett; but now the scales had turned and Red, their finest rifle-shot, had been shot down by Winchester Bassett.
SharpsnounUS /ʃɑːrps/
plural of “sharp” — a musical notation indicating one half step higher than the note named
From this reading The Scarboroughs had killed Sharps and old Henry Bassett; but now the scales had turned and Red, their finest rifle-shot, had been shot down by Winchester Bassett.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading The Scarboroughs had killed Sharps and old Henry Bassett; but now the scales had turned and Red, their finest rifle-shot, had been shot down by Winchester Bassett.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading APACHES There cannot be a war without violence and bloodshed, nor can all the losses be on one side.
snatchedverbUS /snætʃt/
past form of “snatch” — to grasp hastily or eagerly
From this reading A posse of four men had ridden into their stronghold and offered to give them battle; and then, when they had refused and held fast to Indian tactics, Death had risen up and snatched away Red.
strongestadjectiveUS /ˈstrɔːŋɡəst/
superlative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading No matter which side is right, or which has the strongest battalions, Death holds a level hand.
strongholdnounUS /ˈstrɔːŋhoʊld/
a strongly fortified defensive structure
From this reading A posse of four men had ridden into their stronghold and offered to give them battle; and then, when they had refused and held fast to Indian tactics, Death had risen up and snatched away Red.
tacticsnounUS /ˈtæktɪks/
the branch of military science dealing with detailed maneuvers to achieve objectives set by strategy
From this reading A posse of four men had ridden into their stronghold and offered to give them battle; and then, when they had refused and held fast to Indian tactics, Death had risen up and snatched away Red.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading APACHES There cannot be a war without violence and bloodshed, nor can all the losses be on one side.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The Scarboroughs had killed Sharps and old Henry Bassett; but now the scales had turned and Red, their finest rifle-shot, had been shot down by Winchester Bassett.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A posse of four men had ridden into their stronghold and offered to give them battle; and then, when they had refused and held fast to Indian tactics, Death had risen up and snatched away Red.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading A posse of four men had ridden into their stronghold and offered to give them battle; and then, when they had refused and held fast to Indian tactics, Death had risen up and snatched away Red.
in or at that place or location
From this reading APACHES There cannot be a war without violence and bloodshed, nor can all the losses be on one side.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A posse of four men had ridden into their stronghold and offered to give them battle; and then, when they had refused and held fast to Indian tactics, Death had risen up and snatched away Red.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A posse of four men had ridden into their stronghold and offered to give them battle; and then, when they had refused and held fast to Indian tactics, Death had risen up and snatched away Red.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The Scarboroughs had killed Sharps and old Henry Bassett; but now the scales had turned and Red, their finest rifle-shot, had been shot down by Winchester Bassett.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A posse of four men had ridden into their stronghold and offered to give them battle; and then, when they had refused and held fast to Indian tactics, Death had risen up and snatched away Red.
an act of aggression (as one against a person who resists)
From this reading APACHES There cannot be a war without violence and bloodshed, nor can all the losses be on one side.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading APACHES There cannot be a war without violence and bloodshed, nor can all the losses be on one side.
at the time that
From this reading A posse of four men had ridden into their stronghold and offered to give them battle; and then, when they had refused and held fast to Indian tactics, Death had risen up and snatched away Red.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading No matter which side is right, or which has the strongest battalions, Death holds a level hand.
WinchesternounUS /ˈwɪntʃestər/
a city in southern England; administrative center of Hampshire
From this reading The Scarboroughs had killed Sharps and old Henry Bassett; but now the scales had turned and Red, their finest rifle-shot, had been shot down by Winchester Bassett.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Yet even with the body of their brother before them the Scarboroughs declined to fight.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading APACHES There cannot be a war without violence and bloodshed, nor can all the losses be on one side.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet even with the body of their brother before them the Scarboroughs declined to fight.
