Chapter XV · Chapter 15

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading He had left an easy trail to follow and the pursuers were riding hard.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

past form of “approximate” — be close or similar

From this reading From a low ridge he surveyed the western desert, approximated his bearings, and had his foot in the stirrup when he saw four tiny dots that bobbed up and down on the distant sky-line of the west.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

plural of “bearing” — relevant relation or interconnection

From this reading From a low ridge he surveyed the western desert, approximated his bearings, and had his foot in the stirrup when he saw four tiny dots that bobbed up and down on the distant sky-line of the west.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading From a low ridge he surveyed the western desert, approximated his bearings, and had his foot in the stirrup when he saw four tiny dots that bobbed up and down on the distant sky-line of the west.

ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch

From this reading From a low ridge he surveyed the western desert, approximated his bearings, and had his foot in the stirrup when he saw four tiny dots that bobbed up and down on the distant sky-line of the west.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading They were still a long distance from him.

separated in space or coming from or going to a distance

From this reading From a low ridge he surveyed the western desert, approximated his bearings, and had his foot in the stirrup when he saw four tiny dots that bobbed up and down on the distant sky-line of the west.

plural of “dot” — a very small circular shape

From this reading From a low ridge he surveyed the western desert, approximated his bearings, and had his foot in the stirrup when he saw four tiny dots that bobbed up and down on the distant sky-line of the west.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading From a low ridge he surveyed the western desert, approximated his bearings, and had his foot in the stirrup when he saw four tiny dots that bobbed up and down on the distant sky-line of the west.

posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading He had left an easy trail to follow and the pursuers were riding hard.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading He had left an easy trail to follow and the pursuers were riding hard.

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading From a low ridge he surveyed the western desert, approximated his bearings, and had his foot in the stirrup when he saw four tiny dots that bobbed up and down on the distant sky-line of the west.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading From a low ridge he surveyed the western desert, approximated his bearings, and had his foot in the stirrup when he saw four tiny dots that bobbed up and down on the distant sky-line of the west.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From a low ridge he surveyed the western desert, approximated his bearings, and had his foot in the stirrup when he saw four tiny dots that bobbed up and down on the distant sky-line of the west.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading He had left an easy trail to follow and the pursuers were riding hard.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading They were still a long distance from him.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading He led his horse down the far side of the ridge and mounted.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used

From this reading He led his horse down the far side of the ridge and mounted.

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 He had left an easy trail to follow and the pursuers were riding hard.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading They were still a long distance from him.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading From a low ridge he surveyed the western desert, approximated his bearings, and had his foot in the stirrup when he saw four tiny dots that bobbed up and down on the distant sky-line of the west.

assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support

From this reading He led his horse down the far side of the ridge and mounted.

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading From a low ridge he surveyed the western desert, approximated his bearings, and had his foot in the stirrup when he saw four tiny dots that bobbed up and down on the distant sky-line of the west.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading From a low ridge he surveyed the western desert, approximated his bearings, and had his foot in the stirrup when he saw four tiny dots that bobbed up and down on the distant sky-line of the west.

have the will and intention to carry out some action

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

plural of “pursuer” — a person who is pursuing and trying to overtake or capture

From this reading He had left an easy trail to follow and the pursuers were riding hard.

past form of “rein” — control and direct with or as if by reins

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

a long narrow natural elevation or striation

From this reading From a low ridge he surveyed the western desert, approximated his bearings, and had his foot in the stirrup when he saw four tiny dots that bobbed up and down on the distant sky-line of the west.

the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

cut with a saw

From this reading From a low ridge he surveyed the western desert, approximated his bearings, and had his foot in the stirrup when he saw four tiny dots that bobbed up and down on the distant sky-line of the west.

get by special effort

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading He led his horse down the far side of the ridge and mounted.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading From a low ridge he surveyed the western desert, approximated his bearings, and had his foot in the stirrup when he saw four tiny dots that bobbed up and down on the distant sky-line of the west.

one of the islands of Saint Christopher-Nevis

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

not in physical motion

From this reading They were still a long distance from him.

support consisting of metal loops into which rider's feet go

From this reading From a low ridge he surveyed the western desert, approximated his bearings, and had his foot in the stirrup when he saw four tiny dots that bobbed up and down on the distant sky-line of the west.

past form of “survey” — consider in a comprehensive way

From this reading From a low ridge he surveyed the western desert, approximated his bearings, and had his foot in the stirrup when he saw four tiny dots that bobbed up and down on the distant sky-line of the west.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading From a low ridge he surveyed the western desert, approximated his bearings, and had his foot in the stirrup when he saw four tiny dots that bobbed up and down on the distant sky-line of the west.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They were still a long distance from him.

very small

From this reading From a low ridge he surveyed the western desert, approximated his bearings, and had his foot in the stirrup when he saw four tiny dots that bobbed up and down on the distant sky-line of the west.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

a track or mark left by something that has passed

From this reading He had left an easy trail to follow and the pursuers were riding hard.

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading From a low ridge he surveyed the western desert, approximated his bearings, and had his foot in the stirrup when he saw four tiny dots that bobbed up and down on the distant sky-line of the west.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading He had left an easy trail to follow and the pursuers were riding hard.

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading From a low ridge he surveyed the western desert, approximated his bearings, and had his foot in the stirrup when he saw four tiny dots that bobbed up and down on the distant sky-line of the west.

relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts

From this reading From a low ridge he surveyed the western desert, approximated his bearings, and had his foot in the stirrup when he saw four tiny dots that bobbed up and down on the distant sky-line of the west.

at the time that

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading THE BLACK SOMBRERO When Andy had ridden far enough to feel secure in turning and riding north--in fact, his plan was to work back to the Concho in a wide circle--he reined in and dismounted.