used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading All day they had followed the trail of the fugitive--or rather, they had tried to follow it--for they lost it a short time after leaving the ranch, and not even the most skilful of the plainsmen or cow punchers could pick it up again.
anew
From this reading All day they had followed the trail of the fugitive--or rather, they had tried to follow it--for they lost it a short time after leaving the ranch, and not even the most skilful of the plainsmen or cow punchers could pick it up again.
(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 All day they had followed the trail of the fugitive--or rather, they had tried to follow it--for they lost it a short time after leaving the ranch, and not even the most skilful of the plainsmen or cow punchers could pick it up again.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "And give up the chase?"
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading OFF TO GOLDEN PEAK "Well, it's no use, boys, I guess we may as well go back."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading OFF TO GOLDEN PEAK "Well, it's no use, boys, I guess we may as well go back."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading It was Mr. Thornton who spoke first, and Billy who questioned him.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading OFF TO GOLDEN PEAK "Well, it's no use, boys, I guess we may as well go back."
go after with the intent to catch
From this reading "And give up the chase?"
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading All day they had followed the trail of the fugitive--or rather, they had tried to follow it--for they lost it a short time after leaving the ranch, and not even the most skilful of the plainsmen or cow punchers could pick it up again.
cownounUS /kaʊ/
female of domestic cattle: "“moo-cow” is a child's term"
From this reading All day they had followed the trail of the fugitive--or rather, they had tried to follow it--for they lost it a short time after leaving the ranch, and not even the most skilful of the plainsmen or cow punchers could pick it up again.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading All day they had followed the trail of the fugitive--or rather, they had tried to follow it--for they lost it a short time after leaving the ranch, and not even the most skilful of the plainsmen or cow punchers could pick it up again.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
documentnounUS /ˈdɑːkjəment/
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
divisible by two
From this reading All day they had followed the trail of the fugitive--or rather, they had tried to follow it--for they lost it a short time after leaving the ranch, and not even the most skilful of the plainsmen or cow punchers could pick it up again.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It was Mr. Thornton who spoke first, and Billy who questioned him.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading All day they had followed the trail of the fugitive--or rather, they had tried to follow it--for they lost it a short time after leaving the ranch, and not even the most skilful of the plainsmen or cow punchers could pick it up again.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading All day they had followed the trail of the fugitive--or rather, they had tried to follow it--for they lost it a short time after leaving the ranch, and not even the most skilful of the plainsmen or cow punchers could pick it up again.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading All day they had followed the trail of the fugitive--or rather, they had tried to follow it--for they lost it a short time after leaving the ranch, and not even the most skilful of the plainsmen or cow punchers could pick it up again.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
fugitivenounUS /ˈfjuːdʒətɪv/
someone who flees from an uncongenial situation
From this reading All day they had followed the trail of the fugitive--or rather, they had tried to follow it--for they lost it a short time after leaving the ranch, and not even the most skilful of the plainsmen or cow punchers could pick it up again.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading "And give up the chase?"
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading OFF TO GOLDEN PEAK "Well, it's no use, boys, I guess we may as well go back."
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading OFF TO GOLDEN PEAK "Well, it's no use, boys, I guess we may as well go back."
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading OFF TO GOLDEN PEAK "Well, it's no use, boys, I guess we may as well go back."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
haltverbUS /hɔːlt/
cause to stop
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was Mr. Thornton who spoke first, and Billy who questioned him.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading OFF TO GOLDEN PEAK "Well, it's no use, boys, I guess we may as well go back."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Mr. Thornton who spoke first, and Billy who questioned him.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OFF TO GOLDEN PEAK "Well, it's no use, boys, I guess we may as well go back."
the act of departing
From this reading All day they had followed the trail of the fugitive--or rather, they had tried to follow it--for they lost it a short time after leaving the ranch, and not even the most skilful of the plainsmen or cow punchers could pick it up again.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading All day they had followed the trail of the fugitive--or rather, they had tried to follow it--for they lost it a short time after leaving the ranch, and not even the most skilful of the plainsmen or cow punchers could pick it up again.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading OFF TO GOLDEN PEAK "Well, it's no use, boys, I guess we may as well go back."
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
used to form the superlative
From this reading All day they had followed the trail of the fugitive--or rather, they had tried to follow it--for they lost it a short time after leaving the ranch, and not even the most skilful of the plainsmen or cow punchers could pick it up again.
a form of address for a man
From this reading It was Mr. Thornton who spoke first, and Billy who questioned him.
not any; not one
From this reading OFF TO GOLDEN PEAK "Well, it's no use, boys, I guess we may as well go back."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading All day they had followed the trail of the fugitive--or rather, they had tried to follow it--for they lost it a short time after leaving the ranch, and not even the most skilful of the plainsmen or cow punchers could pick it up again.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading All day they had followed the trail of the fugitive--or rather, they had tried to follow it--for they lost it a short time after leaving the ranch, and not even the most skilful of the plainsmen or cow punchers could pick it up again.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading OFF TO GOLDEN PEAK "Well, it's no use, boys, I guess we may as well go back."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading All day they had followed the trail of the fugitive--or rather, they had tried to follow it--for they lost it a short time after leaving the ranch, and not even the most skilful of the plainsmen or cow punchers could pick it up again.
PEAKnounUS /piːk/
the most extreme possible amount or value
From this reading OFF TO GOLDEN PEAK "Well, it's no use, boys, I guess we may as well go back."
select carefully from a group
From this reading All day they had followed the trail of the fugitive--or rather, they had tried to follow it--for they lost it a short time after leaving the ranch, and not even the most skilful of the plainsmen or cow punchers could pick it up again.
plainsmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All day they had followed the trail of the fugitive--or rather, they had tried to follow it--for they lost it a short time after leaving the ranch, and not even the most skilful of the plainsmen or cow punchers could pick it up again.
punchers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All day they had followed the trail of the fugitive--or rather, they had tried to follow it--for they lost it a short time after leaving the ranch, and not even the most skilful of the plainsmen or cow punchers could pick it up again.
past form of “question” — challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading It was Mr. Thornton who spoke first, and Billy who questioned him.
ranchnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
on the contrary
From this reading All day they had followed the trail of the fugitive--or rather, they had tried to follow it--for they lost it a short time after leaving the ranch, and not even the most skilful of the plainsmen or cow punchers could pick it up again.
Identical; not different.
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
the act of searching for something
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading All day they had followed the trail of the fugitive--or rather, they had tried to follow it--for they lost it a short time after leaving the ranch, and not even the most skilful of the plainsmen or cow punchers could pick it up again.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
skilfuladjective
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
From this reading All day they had followed the trail of the fugitive--or rather, they had tried to follow it--for they lost it a short time after leaving the ranch, and not even the most skilful of the plainsmen or cow punchers could pick it up again.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading It was Mr. Thornton who spoke first, and Billy who questioned him.
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "And give up the chase?"
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
ThorntonnounUS /ˈθɔːrntən/
American architect (1759-1828)
From this reading It was Mr. Thornton who spoke first, and Billy who questioned him.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading OFF TO GOLDEN PEAK "Well, it's no use, boys, I guess we may as well go back."
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading All day they had followed the trail of the fugitive--or rather, they had tried to follow it--for they lost it a short time after leaving the ranch, and not even the most skilful of the plainsmen or cow punchers could pick it up again.
unsuccessfuladjectiveUS /ˌʌnsəkˈsesfəl/
not successful; having failed or having an unfavorable outcome
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "And give up the chase?"
the act of using
From this reading OFF TO GOLDEN PEAK "Well, it's no use, boys, I guess we may as well go back."
having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange
From this reading They had been on the trail since early morning, seeking to find the man who had disappeared from their ranch at the same time as did the valuable document, and now, at sunset, they had come to a halt, unsuccessful.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was Mr. Thornton who spoke first, and Billy who questioned him.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading OFF TO GOLDEN PEAK "Well, it's no use, boys, I guess we may as well go back."
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading OFF TO GOLDEN PEAK "Well, it's no use, boys, I guess we may as well go back."
which person or people
From this reading It was Mr. Thornton who spoke first, and Billy who questioned him.
