used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Lightning Becomes a Friend “Lightning thinks we’ve been followed, Jim.”
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading He knew Lightning well enough from his sister’s account of him, and from the talk of Molly on their memorable ride together.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And from his head to his heels the old cattleman became an object of the keenest interest.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He knew Lightning well enough from his sister’s account of him, and from the talk of Molly on their memorable ride together.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Jim Pryse surveyed the lean figure that suggested nothing so much as a bare frame strung with whipcord.
completely unclothed
From this reading Jim Pryse surveyed the lean figure that suggested nothing so much as a bare frame strung with whipcord.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading And from his head to his heels the old cattleman became an object of the keenest interest.
third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Lightning Becomes a Friend “Lightning thinks we’ve been followed, Jim.”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Lightning Becomes a Friend “Lightning thinks we’ve been followed, Jim.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But this was the first time he had set eyes upon him.
cattlemannoun
a man who raises (or tends) cattle
From this reading And from his head to his heels the old cattleman became an object of the keenest interest.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading He knew Lightning well enough from his sister’s account of him, and from the talk of Molly on their memorable ride together.
opinion or judgment
From this reading But this was the first time he had set eyes upon him.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Jim Pryse surveyed the lean figure that suggested nothing so much as a bare frame strung with whipcord.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading But this was the first time he had set eyes upon him.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Lightning Becomes a Friend “Lightning thinks we’ve been followed, Jim.”
enclose in or as if in a frame
From this reading Jim Pryse surveyed the lean figure that suggested nothing so much as a bare frame strung with whipcord.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Lightning Becomes a Friend “Lightning thinks we’ve been followed, Jim.”
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He knew Lightning well enough from his sister’s account of him, and from the talk of Molly on their memorable ride together.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But this was the first time he had set eyes upon him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He knew Lightning well enough from his sister’s account of him, and from the talk of Molly on their memorable ride together.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading And from his head to his heels the old cattleman became an object of the keenest interest.
plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
From this reading And from his head to his heels the old cattleman became an object of the keenest interest.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He knew Lightning well enough from his sister’s account of him, and from the talk of Molly on their memorable ride together.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He knew Lightning well enough from his sister’s account of him, and from the talk of Molly on their memorable ride together.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading And from his head to his heels the old cattleman became an object of the keenest interest.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lightning Becomes a Friend “Lightning thinks we’ve been followed, Jim.”
keenestadjectiveUS /ˈkiːnəst/
superlative of “keen” — having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading And from his head to his heels the old cattleman became an object of the keenest interest.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He knew Lightning well enough from his sister’s account of him, and from the talk of Molly on their memorable ride together.
leanverbUS /liːn/
to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Jim Pryse surveyed the lean figure that suggested nothing so much as a bare frame strung with whipcord.
abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light
From this reading Lightning Becomes a Friend “Lightning thinks we’ve been followed, Jim.”
memorableadjectiveUS /ˈmemərəbəl/
worth remembering
From this reading He knew Lightning well enough from his sister’s account of him, and from the talk of Molly on their memorable ride together.
MollynounUS /ˈmɑːli/
popular aquarium fish
From this reading He knew Lightning well enough from his sister’s account of him, and from the talk of Molly on their memorable ride together.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Jim Pryse surveyed the lean figure that suggested nothing so much as a bare frame strung with whipcord.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Jim Pryse surveyed the lean figure that suggested nothing so much as a bare frame strung with whipcord.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading And from his head to his heels the old cattleman became an object of the keenest interest.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He knew Lightning well enough from his sister’s account of him, and from the talk of Molly on their memorable ride together.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading And from his head to his heels the old cattleman became an object of the keenest interest.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He knew Lightning well enough from his sister’s account of him, and from the talk of Molly on their memorable ride together.
Pryse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jim Pryse surveyed the lean figure that suggested nothing so much as a bare frame strung with whipcord.
sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading He knew Lightning well enough from his sister’s account of him, and from the talk of Molly on their memorable ride together.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading But this was the first time he had set eyes upon him.
sister'snounUS /ˈsɪstərz/
possessive form of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading He knew Lightning well enough from his sister’s account of him, and from the talk of Molly on their memorable ride together.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Jim Pryse surveyed the lean figure that suggested nothing so much as a bare frame strung with whipcord.
strungadjectiveUS /strʌŋ/
that is on a string
From this reading Jim Pryse surveyed the lean figure that suggested nothing so much as a bare frame strung with whipcord.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading Jim Pryse surveyed the lean figure that suggested nothing so much as a bare frame strung with whipcord.
surveyedverbUS /sərˈveɪd/
past form of “survey” — consider in a comprehensive way
From this reading Jim Pryse surveyed the lean figure that suggested nothing so much as a bare frame strung with whipcord.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading He knew Lightning well enough from his sister’s account of him, and from the talk of Molly on their memorable ride together.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Jim Pryse surveyed the lean figure that suggested nothing so much as a bare frame strung with whipcord.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Jim Pryse surveyed the lean figure that suggested nothing so much as a bare frame strung with whipcord.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He knew Lightning well enough from his sister’s account of him, and from the talk of Molly on their memorable ride together.
plural of “think” — an instance of deliberate thinking
From this reading Lightning Becomes a Friend “Lightning thinks we’ve been followed, Jim.”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But this was the first time he had set eyes upon him.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading But this was the first time he had set eyes upon him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And from his head to his heels the old cattleman became an object of the keenest interest.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading He knew Lightning well enough from his sister’s account of him, and from the talk of Molly on their memorable ride together.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But this was the first time he had set eyes upon him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But this was the first time he had set eyes upon him.
we've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lightning Becomes a Friend “Lightning thinks we’ve been followed, Jim.”
(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 He knew Lightning well enough from his sister’s account of him, and from the talk of Molly on their memorable ride together.
whipcordnoun
closely twisted hard cord used for the lashes of whips
From this reading Jim Pryse surveyed the lean figure that suggested nothing so much as a bare frame strung with whipcord.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Jim Pryse surveyed the lean figure that suggested nothing so much as a bare frame strung with whipcord.
