used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
adobenounUS /əˈdoʊbi/
the clay from which adobe bricks are made
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AT THE RANCH AND IN THE CHAPARRAL.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT THE RANCH AND IN THE CHAPARRAL.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been dug out to a depth of several feet and walled in.
bubbledverbUS /ˈbʌbəld/
past form of “bubble” — form, produce, or emit bubbles
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
CHAPARRALnounUS /ˌʃæpərˈæl/
dense vegetation consisting of stunted trees or bushes
From this reading AT THE RANCH AND IN THE CHAPARRAL.
one who is the object of choice; who is given preference
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
constructedverbUS /kənˈstrʌktəd/
past form of “construct” — make by combining materials and parts
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrt.jɑːrd/
An unroofed area that is completely or partially enclosed by the walls of a house.
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
depthnounUS /depθ/
the extent downward or backward or inward
From this reading It had been dug out to a depth of several feet and walled in.
dugnounUS /dʌɡ/
an udder or breast or teat
From this reading It had been dug out to a depth of several feet and walled in.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
exactadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzækt/
Strictly particular and correct.
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading It had been dug out to a depth of several feet and walled in.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
following the third position; number four in a countable series
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
furnishverbUS /ˈfɜːrnɪʃ/
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
a social unit living together
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AT THE RANCH AND IN THE CHAPARRAL.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
Lucia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It had been dug out to a depth of several feet and walled in.
palisadesnounUS /ˌpælɪˈseɪdz/
plural of “palisade” — fortification consisting of a strong fence made of stakes driven into the ground
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
RANCHnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading AT THE RANCH AND IN THE CHAPARRAL.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
rillnounUS /rɪl/
a small stream
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
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 was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
settlernounUS /ˈsetələr/
a person who settles in a new colony or moves into new country
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading It had been dug out to a depth of several feet and walled in.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
Spanish-Mexican
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
the season of growth
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
supplyingnounUS /səˈplaɪɪŋ/
the activity of supplying or providing something
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AT THE RANCH AND IN THE CHAPARRAL.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
very small
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It had been dug out to a depth of several feet and walled in.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
precisely as stated
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
walledverbUS /wɔːld/
past form of “wall” — surround with a wall in order to fortify
From this reading It had been dug out to a depth of several feet and walled in.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
