the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There he lay upon his back under the vast canopy of an ancient cypress-tree.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading There he lay upon his back under the vast canopy of an ancient cypress-tree.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading CAL'S VISITORS AND HIS BREAKFAST.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
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 Near him the two uncouth-looking Apaches had thrown themselves upon the grass.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
in a state of sleep
From this reading They seemed to be asleep pretty soon, for there was no more need of their watching the prisoner.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading There he lay upon his back under the vast canopy of an ancient cypress-tree.
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They seemed to be asleep pretty soon, for there was no more need of their watching the prisoner.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading CAL'S VISITORS AND HIS BREAKFAST.
buffalo-paths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
Cal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
CAL'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CAL'S VISITORS AND HIS BREAKFAST.
canopynounUS /ˈkæn.ə.pi/
An overhead roof or structure, such as the high vaulted ceiling of an ancient library.
From this reading There he lay upon his back under the vast canopy of an ancient cypress-tree.
chaparralnounUS /ˌʃæpərˈæl/
dense vegetation consisting of stunted trees or bushes
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
cypress-tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There he lay upon his back under the vast canopy of an ancient cypress-tree.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
escapingverbUS /ɪˈskeɪpɪŋ/
-ing form of “escape” — run away from confinement
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
divisible by two
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They seemed to be asleep pretty soon, for there was no more need of their watching the prisoner.
set up or found
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading Near him the two uncouth-looking Apaches had thrown themselves upon the grass.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Near him the two uncouth-looking Apaches had thrown themselves upon the grass.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading CAL'S VISITORS AND HIS BREAKFAST.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading There he lay upon his back under the vast canopy of an ancient cypress-tree.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading They seemed to be asleep pretty soon, for there was no more need of their watching the prisoner.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Near him the two uncouth-looking Apaches had thrown themselves upon the grass.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading They seemed to be asleep pretty soon, for there was no more need of their watching the prisoner.
not any; not one
From this reading They seemed to be asleep pretty soon, for there was no more need of their watching the prisoner.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading They seemed to be asleep pretty soon, for there was no more need of their watching the prisoner.
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading They seemed to be asleep pretty soon, for there was no more need of their watching the prisoner.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
cut with a saw
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading They seemed to be asleep pretty soon, for there was no more need of their watching the prisoner.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
in the near future
From this reading They seemed to be asleep pretty soon, for there was no more need of their watching the prisoner.
spider-web
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
stakedverbUS /steɪkt/
past form of “stake” — put at risk
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They seemed to be asleep pretty soon, for there was no more need of their watching the prisoner.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Near him the two uncouth-looking Apaches had thrown themselves upon the grass.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There he lay upon his back under the vast canopy of an ancient cypress-tree.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They seemed to be asleep pretty soon, for there was no more need of their watching the prisoner.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading Near him the two uncouth-looking Apaches had thrown themselves upon the grass.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They seemed to be asleep pretty soon, for there was no more need of their watching the prisoner.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Near him the two uncouth-looking Apaches had thrown themselves upon the grass.
uncouth-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Near him the two uncouth-looking Apaches had thrown themselves upon the grass.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading There he lay upon his back under the vast canopy of an ancient cypress-tree.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading There he lay upon his back under the vast canopy of an ancient cypress-tree.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading There he lay upon his back under the vast canopy of an ancient cypress-tree.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading CAL'S VISITORS AND HIS BREAKFAST.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading They seemed to be asleep pretty soon, for there was no more need of their watching the prisoner.
at the time that
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Even when he was lost in the chaparral, and saw the sun go down without any hope of escaping from the spider-web of buffalo-paths, Cal had not felt quite so badly as he did when he found himself staked out.
