used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Nobody rode up to the wooden barrier, but his quick ears caught a stealthy footstep behind him, and he turned sharply around with his hand on the lock of his rifle.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Even the dogs could hardly get up an excuse for healthy barking after dark.
alarmsnounUS /əˈlɑːrmz/
plural of “alarm” — fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading There were no alarms of cougars nor of any human wild people around the Santa Lucia ranch.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Even the dogs could hardly get up an excuse for healthy barking after dark.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Nobody rode up to the wooden barrier, but his quick ears caught a stealthy footstep behind him, and he turned sharply around with his hand on the lock of his rifle.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading There were no alarms of cougars nor of any human wild people around the Santa Lucia ranch.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading There were no alarms of cougars nor of any human wild people around the Santa Lucia ranch.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Just in the dawn of that next morning, however, the cowboy on guard at the stockade gate was taken by surprise.
barkingverbUS /ˈbɑːrkɪŋ/
-ing form of “bark” — speak in an unfriendly tone
From this reading Even the dogs could hardly get up an excuse for healthy barking after dark.
barriernounUS /ˈbæriər/
a structure or object that impedes free movement
From this reading Nobody rode up to the wooden barrier, but his quick ears caught a stealthy footstep behind him, and he turned sharply around with his hand on the lock of his rifle.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Nobody rode up to the wooden barrier, but his quick ears caught a stealthy footstep behind him, and he turned sharply around with his hand on the lock of his rifle.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Nobody rode up to the wooden barrier, but his quick ears caught a stealthy footstep behind him, and he turned sharply around with his hand on the lock of his rifle.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Just in the dawn of that next morning, however, the cowboy on guard at the stockade gate was taken by surprise.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Nobody rode up to the wooden barrier, but his quick ears caught a stealthy footstep behind him, and he turned sharply around with his hand on the lock of his rifle.
cougarsnounUS /ˈkuːɡərz/
plural of “cougar” — large American feline resembling a lion
From this reading There were no alarms of cougars nor of any human wild people around the Santa Lucia ranch.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Even the dogs could hardly get up an excuse for healthy barking after dark.
cowboynounUS /ˈkaʊbɔɪ/
a hired hand who tends cattle and performs other duties on horseback
From this reading Just in the dawn of that next morning, however, the cowboy on guard at the stockade gate was taken by surprise.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Even the dogs could hardly get up an excuse for healthy barking after dark.
the first light of day
From this reading Just in the dawn of that next morning, however, the cowboy on guard at the stockade gate was taken by surprise.
plural of “dog” — a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading Even the dogs could hardly get up an excuse for healthy barking after dark.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Nobody rode up to the wooden barrier, but his quick ears caught a stealthy footstep behind him, and he turned sharply around with his hand on the lock of his rifle.
divisible by two
From this reading Even the dogs could hardly get up an excuse for healthy barking after dark.
accept an excuse for
From this reading Even the dogs could hardly get up an excuse for healthy barking after dark.
footstepnounUS /ˈfʊtstep/
the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading Nobody rode up to the wooden barrier, but his quick ears caught a stealthy footstep behind him, and he turned sharply around with his hand on the lock of his rifle.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Even the dogs could hardly get up an excuse for healthy barking after dark.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading Just in the dawn of that next morning, however, the cowboy on guard at the stockade gate was taken by surprise.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Even the dogs could hardly get up an excuse for healthy barking after dark.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading Just in the dawn of that next morning, however, the cowboy on guard at the stockade gate was taken by surprise.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Nobody rode up to the wooden barrier, but his quick ears caught a stealthy footstep behind him, and he turned sharply around with his hand on the lock of his rifle.
only a very short time before
From this reading Even the dogs could hardly get up an excuse for healthy barking after dark.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Nobody rode up to the wooden barrier, but his quick ears caught a stealthy footstep behind him, and he turned sharply around with his hand on the lock of his rifle.
healthyadjectiveUS /ˈhelθi/
having or indicating good health in body or mind; free from infirmity or disease
From this reading Even the dogs could hardly get up an excuse for healthy barking after dark.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Nobody rode up to the wooden barrier, but his quick ears caught a stealthy footstep behind him, and he turned sharply around with his hand on the lock of his rifle.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Nobody rode up to the wooden barrier, but his quick ears caught a stealthy footstep behind him, and he turned sharply around with his hand on the lock of his rifle.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Just in the dawn of that next morning, however, the cowboy on guard at the stockade gate was taken by surprise.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading There were no alarms of cougars nor of any human wild people around the Santa Lucia ranch.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Just in the dawn of that next morning, however, the cowboy on guard at the stockade gate was taken by surprise.
and nothing more
From this reading Just in the dawn of that next morning, however, the cowboy on guard at the stockade gate was taken by surprise.
KAH-GO-MISH
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RETURN OF KAH-GO-MISH.
fasten with a lock
From this reading Nobody rode up to the wooden barrier, but his quick ears caught a stealthy footstep behind him, and he turned sharply around with his hand on the lock of his rifle.
Lucia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were no alarms of cougars nor of any human wild people around the Santa Lucia ranch.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Just in the dawn of that next morning, however, the cowboy on guard at the stockade gate was taken by surprise.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Just in the dawn of that next morning, however, the cowboy on guard at the stockade gate was taken by surprise.
not any; not one
From this reading There were no alarms of cougars nor of any human wild people around the Santa Lucia ranch.
no person; not anyone
From this reading Nobody rode up to the wooden barrier, but his quick ears caught a stealthy footstep behind him, and he turned sharply around with his hand on the lock of his rifle.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading There were no alarms of cougars nor of any human wild people around the Santa Lucia ranch.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE RETURN OF KAH-GO-MISH.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Just in the dawn of that next morning, however, the cowboy on guard at the stockade gate was taken by surprise.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading There were no alarms of cougars nor of any human wild people around the Santa Lucia ranch.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading Nobody rode up to the wooden barrier, but his quick ears caught a stealthy footstep behind him, and he turned sharply around with his hand on the lock of his rifle.
ranchnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading There were no alarms of cougars nor of any human wild people around the Santa Lucia ranch.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading THE RETURN OF KAH-GO-MISH.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading Nobody rode up to the wooden barrier, but his quick ears caught a stealthy footstep behind him, and he turned sharply around with his hand on the lock of his rifle.
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading Nobody rode up to the wooden barrier, but his quick ears caught a stealthy footstep behind him, and he turned sharply around with his hand on the lock of his rifle.
SantanounUS /ˈsæntə/
the legendary patron saint of children; an imaginary being who is thought to bring presents to children at Christmas
From this reading There were no alarms of cougars nor of any human wild people around the Santa Lucia ranch.
in an aggressive manner
From this reading Nobody rode up to the wooden barrier, but his quick ears caught a stealthy footstep behind him, and he turned sharply around with his hand on the lock of his rifle.
stealthyadjectiveUS /ˈstelθi/
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
From this reading Nobody rode up to the wooden barrier, but his quick ears caught a stealthy footstep behind him, and he turned sharply around with his hand on the lock of his rifle.
stockadenounUS /ˈstɑːkeɪd/
fortification consisting of a fence made of a line of stout posts set firmly for defense
From this reading Just in the dawn of that next morning, however, the cowboy on guard at the stockade gate was taken by surprise.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading Just in the dawn of that next morning, however, the cowboy on guard at the stockade gate was taken by surprise.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Just in the dawn of that next morning, however, the cowboy on guard at the stockade gate was taken by surprise.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Just in the dawn of that next morning, however, the cowboy on guard at the stockade gate was taken by surprise.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RETURN OF KAH-GO-MISH.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were no alarms of cougars nor of any human wild people around the Santa Lucia ranch.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nobody rode up to the wooden barrier, but his quick ears caught a stealthy footstep behind him, and he turned sharply around with his hand on the lock of his rifle.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Nobody rode up to the wooden barrier, but his quick ears caught a stealthy footstep behind him, and he turned sharply around with his hand on the lock of his rifle.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Even the dogs could hardly get up an excuse for healthy barking after dark.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Just in the dawn of that next morning, however, the cowboy on guard at the stockade gate was taken by surprise.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were no alarms of cougars nor of any human wild people around the Santa Lucia ranch.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading There were no alarms of cougars nor of any human wild people around the Santa Lucia ranch.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Nobody rode up to the wooden barrier, but his quick ears caught a stealthy footstep behind him, and he turned sharply around with his hand on the lock of his rifle.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading Nobody rode up to the wooden barrier, but his quick ears caught a stealthy footstep behind him, and he turned sharply around with his hand on the lock of his rifle.
