used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading These were all gone, thus proving that the ranchman had not been able to provide any more for the benefit of his steeds that were to carry him and his cowboys during all sorts of weather.
(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 These were all gone, thus proving that the ranchman had not been able to provide any more for the benefit of his steeds that were to carry him and his cowboys during all sorts of weather.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading These were all gone, thus proving that the ranchman had not been able to provide any more for the benefit of his steeds that were to carry him and his cowboys during all sorts of weather.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading These were all gone, thus proving that the ranchman had not been able to provide any more for the benefit of his steeds that were to carry him and his cowboys during all sorts of weather.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As we drew nearer we discovered a man and a boy sitting on the porch.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Of course there could be no hay while the grass that was to furnish it was all burned up.
beamingadjectiveUS /ˈbiːmɪŋ/
cheerful and bright
From this reading They did not wait for us to speak to them, but the boy got up with his face beaming all over with smiles, while the man, who seemed to be a sort of invalid, kept his chair.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading These were all gone, thus proving that the ranchman had not been able to provide any more for the benefit of his steeds that were to carry him and his cowboys during all sorts of weather.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
financial assistance in time of need
From this reading These were all gone, thus proving that the ranchman had not been able to provide any more for the benefit of his steeds that were to carry him and his cowboys during all sorts of weather.
a youthful male person
From this reading As we drew nearer we discovered a man and a boy sitting on the porch.
treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point
From this reading Of course there could be no hay while the grass that was to furnish it was all burned up.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They did not wait for us to speak to them, but the boy got up with his face beaming all over with smiles, while the man, who seemed to be a sort of invalid, kept his chair.
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading These were all gone, thus proving that the ranchman had not been able to provide any more for the benefit of his steeds that were to carry him and his cowboys during all sorts of weather.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading They did not wait for us to speak to them, but the boy got up with his face beaming all over with smiles, while the man, who seemed to be a sort of invalid, kept his chair.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Of course there could be no hay while the grass that was to furnish it was all burned up.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course there could be no hay while the grass that was to furnish it was all burned up.
cowboysnounUS /ˈkaʊbɔɪz/
plural of “cowboy” — a hired hand who tends cattle and performs other duties on horseback
From this reading These were all gone, thus proving that the ranchman had not been able to provide any more for the benefit of his steeds that were to carry him and his cowboys during all sorts of weather.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading As we drew nearer we discovered a man and a boy sitting on the porch.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading As we drew nearer we discovered a man and a boy sitting on the porch.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading These were all gone, thus proving that the ranchman had not been able to provide any more for the benefit of his steeds that were to carry him and his cowboys during all sorts of weather.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading They did not wait for us to speak to them, but the boy got up with his face beaming all over with smiles, while the man, who seemed to be a sort of invalid, kept his chair.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
furnishverbUS /ˈfɜːrnɪʃ/
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading Of course there could be no hay while the grass that was to furnish it was all burned up.
destroyed or killed
From this reading These were all gone, thus proving that the ranchman had not been able to provide any more for the benefit of his steeds that were to carry him and his cowboys during all sorts of weather.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading They did not wait for us to speak to them, but the boy got up with his face beaming all over with smiles, while the man, who seemed to be a sort of invalid, kept his chair.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading Of course there could be no hay while the grass that was to furnish it was all burned up.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading These were all gone, thus proving that the ranchman had not been able to provide any more for the benefit of his steeds that were to carry him and his cowboys during all sorts of weather.
haynounUS /heɪ/
grass mowed and cured for use as fodder
From this reading Of course there could be no hay while the grass that was to furnish it was all burned up.
hayracks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading These were all gone, thus proving that the ranchman had not been able to provide any more for the benefit of his steeds that were to carry him and his cowboys during all sorts of weather.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading These were all gone, thus proving that the ranchman had not been able to provide any more for the benefit of his steeds that were to carry him and his cowboys during all sorts of weather.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
invalidnounUS /ˈɪnvələd/
someone who is incapacitated by a chronic illness or injury
From this reading They did not wait for us to speak to them, but the boy got up with his face beaming all over with smiles, while the man, who seemed to be a sort of invalid, kept his chair.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading They did not wait for us to speak to them, but the boy got up with his face beaming all over with smiles, while the man, who seemed to be a sort of invalid, kept his chair.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading As we drew nearer we discovered a man and a boy sitting on the porch.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
not any; not one
From this reading Of course there could be no hay while the grass that was to furnish it was all burned up.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading These were all gone, thus proving that the ranchman had not been able to provide any more for the benefit of his steeds that were to carry him and his cowboys during all sorts of weather.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As we drew nearer we discovered a man and a boy sitting on the porch.
and nothing more
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading They did not wait for us to speak to them, but the boy got up with his face beaming all over with smiles, while the man, who seemed to be a sort of invalid, kept his chair.
piledverbUS /paɪld/
past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading As we drew nearer we discovered a man and a boy sitting on the porch.
provideverbUS /prəˈvaɪd/
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading These were all gone, thus proving that the ranchman had not been able to provide any more for the benefit of his steeds that were to carry him and his cowboys during all sorts of weather.
provingverbUS /ˈpruːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “prove” — be shown or be found to be
From this reading These were all gone, thus proving that the ranchman had not been able to provide any more for the benefit of his steeds that were to carry him and his cowboys during all sorts of weather.
ranchnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
ranchman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were all gone, thus proving that the ranchman had not been able to provide any more for the benefit of his steeds that were to carry him and his cowboys during all sorts of weather.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading They did not wait for us to speak to them, but the boy got up with his face beaming all over with smiles, while the man, who seemed to be a sort of invalid, kept his chair.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading As we drew nearer we discovered a man and a boy sitting on the porch.
smilesnounUS /smaɪlz/
plural of “smile” — a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading They did not wait for us to speak to them, but the boy got up with his face beaming all over with smiles, while the man, who seemed to be a sort of invalid, kept his chair.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading They did not wait for us to speak to them, but the boy got up with his face beaming all over with smiles, while the man, who seemed to be a sort of invalid, kept his chair.
plural of “sort” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading These were all gone, thus proving that the ranchman had not been able to provide any more for the benefit of his steeds that were to carry him and his cowboys during all sorts of weather.
express in speech
From this reading They did not wait for us to speak to them, but the boy got up with his face beaming all over with smiles, while the man, who seemed to be a sort of invalid, kept his chair.
steedsnounUS /stiːdz/
plural of “steed” — (literary) a spirited horse for state of war
From this reading These were all gone, thus proving that the ranchman had not been able to provide any more for the benefit of his steeds that were to carry him and his cowboys during all sorts of weather.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They did not wait for us to speak to them, but the boy got up with his face beaming all over with smiles, while the man, who seemed to be a sort of invalid, kept his chair.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Of course there could be no hay while the grass that was to furnish it was all burned up.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These were all gone, thus proving that the ranchman had not been able to provide any more for the benefit of his steeds that were to carry him and his cowboys during all sorts of weather.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They did not wait for us to speak to them, but the boy got up with his face beaming all over with smiles, while the man, who seemed to be a sort of invalid, kept his chair.
a special situation
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading These were all gone, thus proving that the ranchman had not been able to provide any more for the benefit of his steeds that were to carry him and his cowboys during all sorts of weather.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
under normal conditions
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading They did not wait for us to speak to them, but the boy got up with his face beaming all over with smiles, while the man, who seemed to be a sort of invalid, kept his chair.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Of course there could be no hay while the grass that was to furnish it was all burned up.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading These were all gone, thus proving that the ranchman had not been able to provide any more for the benefit of his steeds that were to carry him and his cowboys during all sorts of weather.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The nearer we approached to the ranch the more like a home place it looked to us, the only thing that did not appear natural being the hayracks that were usually piled up for the horses.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Of course there could be no hay while the grass that was to furnish it was all burned up.
which person or people
From this reading They did not wait for us to speak to them, but the boy got up with his face beaming all over with smiles, while the man, who seemed to be a sort of invalid, kept his chair.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They did not wait for us to speak to them, but the boy got up with his face beaming all over with smiles, while the man, who seemed to be a sort of invalid, kept his chair.
