used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Closer came the steer, until his wicked looking horns were but a foot away.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading JIM JONES, THE COWBOY To some of the boys it looked as if Sam and his steed must surely be seriously injured, if not killed.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading JIM JONES, THE COWBOY To some of the boys it looked as if Sam and his steed must surely be seriously injured, if not killed.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Closer came the steer, until his wicked looking horns were but a foot away.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading "Back up, Sam!" screamed Tom.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading JIM JONES, THE COWBOY To some of the boys it looked as if Sam and his steed must surely be seriously injured, if not killed.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading JIM JONES, THE COWBOY To some of the boys it looked as if Sam and his steed must surely be seriously injured, if not killed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Closer came the steer, until his wicked looking horns were but a foot away.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Closer came the steer, until his wicked looking horns were but a foot away.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading Closer came the steer, until his wicked looking horns were but a foot away.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Poor Sam could not back very well, and now his horse was thoroughly unmanageable.
COWBOYnounUS /ˈkaʊbɔɪ/
a hired hand who tends cattle and performs other duties on horseback
From this reading JIM JONES, THE COWBOY To some of the boys it looked as if Sam and his steed must surely be seriously injured, if not killed.
damagenounUS /ˈdæmədʒ/
the occurrence of a change for the worse
From this reading The steer was large and powerful looking, and his horns were sharp enough to inflict serious damage.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading The steer was large and powerful looking, and his horns were sharp enough to inflict serious damage.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Closer came the steer, until his wicked looking horns were but a foot away.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading JIM JONES, THE COWBOY To some of the boys it looked as if Sam and his steed must surely be seriously injured, if not killed.
hornsnounUS /hɔːrnz/
plural of “horn” — a noisemaker (as at parties or games) that makes a loud noise when you blow through it
From this reading The steer was large and powerful looking, and his horns were sharp enough to inflict serious damage.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading Poor Sam could not back very well, and now his horse was thoroughly unmanageable.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading JIM JONES, THE COWBOY To some of the boys it looked as if Sam and his steed must surely be seriously injured, if not killed.
inflictverbUS /ˌɪnˈflɪkt/
impose something unpleasant
From this reading The steer was large and powerful looking, and his horns were sharp enough to inflict serious damage.
injuredadjectiveUS /ˈɪndʒərd/
harmed
From this reading JIM JONES, THE COWBOY To some of the boys it looked as if Sam and his steed must surely be seriously injured, if not killed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading JIM JONES, THE COWBOY To some of the boys it looked as if Sam and his steed must surely be seriously injured, if not killed.
JIM
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIM JONES, THE COWBOY To some of the boys it looked as if Sam and his steed must surely be seriously injured, if not killed.
United States labor leader (born in Ireland) who helped to found the Industrial Workers of the World (1830-1930)
From this reading JIM JONES, THE COWBOY To some of the boys it looked as if Sam and his steed must surely be seriously injured, if not killed.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading JIM JONES, THE COWBOY To some of the boys it looked as if Sam and his steed must surely be seriously injured, if not killed.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The steer was large and powerful looking, and his horns were sharp enough to inflict serious damage.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading JIM JONES, THE COWBOY To some of the boys it looked as if Sam and his steed must surely be seriously injured, if not killed.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading The steer was large and powerful looking, and his horns were sharp enough to inflict serious damage.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading JIM JONES, THE COWBOY To some of the boys it looked as if Sam and his steed must surely be seriously injured, if not killed.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading JIM JONES, THE COWBOY To some of the boys it looked as if Sam and his steed must surely be seriously injured, if not killed.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Poor Sam could not back very well, and now his horse was thoroughly unmanageable.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading JIM JONES, THE COWBOY To some of the boys it looked as if Sam and his steed must surely be seriously injured, if not killed.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Poor Sam could not back very well, and now his horse was thoroughly unmanageable.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading The steer was large and powerful looking, and his horns were sharp enough to inflict serious damage.
a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
From this reading JIM JONES, THE COWBOY To some of the boys it looked as if Sam and his steed must surely be seriously injured, if not killed.
screamedverbUS /skriːmd/
past form of “scream” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "Back up, Sam!" screamed Tom.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading The steer was large and powerful looking, and his horns were sharp enough to inflict serious damage.
in a serious manner
From this reading JIM JONES, THE COWBOY To some of the boys it looked as if Sam and his steed must surely be seriously injured, if not killed.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading The steer was large and powerful looking, and his horns were sharp enough to inflict serious damage.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading JIM JONES, THE COWBOY To some of the boys it looked as if Sam and his steed must surely be seriously injured, if not killed.
steednounUS /stiːd/
(literary) a spirited horse for state of war
From this reading JIM JONES, THE COWBOY To some of the boys it looked as if Sam and his steed must surely be seriously injured, if not killed.
steerverbUS /stɪr/
direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
From this reading The steer was large and powerful looking, and his horns were sharp enough to inflict serious damage.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading JIM JONES, THE COWBOY To some of the boys it looked as if Sam and his steed must surely be seriously injured, if not killed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading JIM JONES, THE COWBOY To some of the boys it looked as if Sam and his steed must surely be seriously injured, if not killed.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading Poor Sam could not back very well, and now his horse was thoroughly unmanageable.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading JIM JONES, THE COWBOY To some of the boys it looked as if Sam and his steed must surely be seriously injured, if not killed.
male cat
From this reading "Back up, Sam!" screamed Tom.
unmanageableadjectiveUS /ənˈmænɪdʒəbəl/
difficult to use or handle or manage because of size or weight or shape
From this reading Poor Sam could not back very well, and now his horse was thoroughly unmanageable.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Closer came the steer, until his wicked looking horns were but a foot away.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Back up, Sam!" screamed Tom.
precisely as stated
From this reading Poor Sam could not back very well, and now his horse was thoroughly unmanageable.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The steer was large and powerful looking, and his horns were sharp enough to inflict serious damage.
(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 Poor Sam could not back very well, and now his horse was thoroughly unmanageable.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The steer was large and powerful looking, and his horns were sharp enough to inflict serious damage.
morally bad in principle or practice
From this reading Closer came the steer, until his wicked looking horns were but a foot away.
