used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They were leading their mounts, for the way was so rough they did not want to risk a misstep on the faithful creatures’ part in the dark.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “Just a mouthful of grass and a drink of water after it,” he said to his chum.
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading The horses’ sides were heaving and their heads hung almost to the ground; but Chet, as leader of the expedition, was not willing to allow them much rest.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading As Chet Havens expected, the stream they had followed so long—almost from the valley where they had corralled the buffaloes—fell into the wide but shallow river they had crossed several days before on the trail of the thieves.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The horses’ sides were heaving and their heads hung almost to the ground; but Chet, as leader of the expedition, was not willing to allow them much rest.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As Chet Havens expected, the stream they had followed so long—almost from the valley where they had corralled the buffaloes—fell into the wide but shallow river they had crossed several days before on the trail of the thieves.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading In the dim dusk of late evening the trail boys suddenly came down to the river bank.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading As Chet Havens expected, the stream they had followed so long—almost from the valley where they had corralled the buffaloes—fell into the wide but shallow river they had crossed several days before on the trail of the thieves.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading In the dim dusk of late evening the trail boys suddenly came down to the river bank.
buffaloes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Chet Havens expected, the stream they had followed so long—almost from the valley where they had corralled the buffaloes—fell into the wide but shallow river they had crossed several days before on the trail of the thieves.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading As Chet Havens expected, the stream they had followed so long—almost from the valley where they had corralled the buffaloes—fell into the wide but shallow river they had crossed several days before on the trail of the thieves.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading In the dim dusk of late evening the trail boys suddenly came down to the river bank.
Chet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Chet Havens expected, the stream they had followed so long—almost from the valley where they had corralled the buffaloes—fell into the wide but shallow river they had crossed several days before on the trail of the thieves.
chumnounUS /tʃʌm/
a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading “Just a mouthful of grass and a drink of water after it,” he said to his chum.
corralledverbUS /kərˈæld/
inflected form of “corral” — enclose in a corral
From this reading As Chet Havens expected, the stream they had followed so long—almost from the valley where they had corralled the buffaloes—fell into the wide but shallow river they had crossed several days before on the trail of the thieves.
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading They were leading their mounts, for the way was so rough they did not want to risk a misstep on the faithful creatures’ part in the dark.
placed crosswise
From this reading As Chet Havens expected, the stream they had followed so long—almost from the valley where they had corralled the buffaloes—fell into the wide but shallow river they had crossed several days before on the trail of the thieves.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading They were leading their mounts, for the way was so rough they did not want to risk a misstep on the faithful creatures’ part in the dark.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading As Chet Havens expected, the stream they had followed so long—almost from the valley where they had corralled the buffaloes—fell into the wide but shallow river they had crossed several days before on the trail of the thieves.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading They were leading their mounts, for the way was so rough they did not want to risk a misstep on the faithful creatures’ part in the dark.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading In the dim dusk of late evening the trail boys suddenly came down to the river bank.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading In the dim dusk of late evening the trail boys suddenly came down to the river bank.
take in liquids
From this reading “Just a mouthful of grass and a drink of water after it,” he said to his chum.
dusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading In the dim dusk of late evening the trail boys suddenly came down to the river bank.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading In the dim dusk of late evening the trail boys suddenly came down to the river bank.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading As Chet Havens expected, the stream they had followed so long—almost from the valley where they had corralled the buffaloes—fell into the wide but shallow river they had crossed several days before on the trail of the thieves.
a military campaign designed to achieve a specific objective in a foreign country
From this reading The horses’ sides were heaving and their heads hung almost to the ground; but Chet, as leader of the expedition, was not willing to allow them much rest.
steadfast in affection or allegiance
From this reading They were leading their mounts, for the way was so rough they did not want to risk a misstep on the faithful creatures’ part in the dark.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading As Chet Havens expected, the stream they had followed so long—almost from the valley where they had corralled the buffaloes—fell into the wide but shallow river they had crossed several days before on the trail of the thieves.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading As Chet Havens expected, the stream they had followed so long—almost from the valley where they had corralled the buffaloes—fell into the wide but shallow river they had crossed several days before on the trail of the thieves.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They were leading their mounts, for the way was so rough they did not want to risk a misstep on the faithful creatures’ part in the dark.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As Chet Havens expected, the stream they had followed so long—almost from the valley where they had corralled the buffaloes—fell into the wide but shallow river they had crossed several days before on the trail of the thieves.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading “Just a mouthful of grass and a drink of water after it,” he said to his chum.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The horses’ sides were heaving and their heads hung almost to the ground; but Chet, as leader of the expedition, was not willing to allow them much rest.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As Chet Havens expected, the stream they had followed so long—almost from the valley where they had corralled the buffaloes—fell into the wide but shallow river they had crossed several days before on the trail of the thieves.
HavensnounUS /ˈheɪvənz/
plural of “haven” — a shelter serving as a place of safety or sanctuary
From this reading As Chet Havens expected, the stream they had followed so long—almost from the valley where they had corralled the buffaloes—fell into the wide but shallow river they had crossed several days before on the trail of the thieves.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Just a mouthful of grass and a drink of water after it,” he said to his chum.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The horses’ sides were heaving and their heads hung almost to the ground; but Chet, as leader of the expedition, was not willing to allow them much rest.
heavingnounUS /ˈhiːvɪŋ/
an upward movement (especially a rhythmical rising and falling)
From this reading The horses’ sides were heaving and their heads hung almost to the ground; but Chet, as leader of the expedition, was not willing to allow them much rest.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Just a mouthful of grass and a drink of water after it,” he said to his chum.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading The horses’ sides were heaving and their heads hung almost to the ground; but Chet, as leader of the expedition, was not willing to allow them much rest.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading The horses’ sides were heaving and their heads hung almost to the ground; but Chet, as leader of the expedition, was not willing to allow them much rest.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the dim dusk of late evening the trail boys suddenly came down to the river bank.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading As Chet Havens expected, the stream they had followed so long—almost from the valley where they had corralled the buffaloes—fell into the wide but shallow river they had crossed several days before on the trail of the thieves.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Just a mouthful of grass and a drink of water after it,” he said to his chum.
and nothing more
From this reading “Just a mouthful of grass and a drink of water after it,” he said to his chum.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading In the dim dusk of late evening the trail boys suddenly came down to the river bank.
a person who rules or guides or inspires others
From this reading The horses’ sides were heaving and their heads hung almost to the ground; but Chet, as leader of the expedition, was not willing to allow them much rest.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading They were leading their mounts, for the way was so rough they did not want to risk a misstep on the faithful creatures’ part in the dark.
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 As Chet Havens expected, the stream they had followed so long—almost from the valley where they had corralled the buffaloes—fell into the wide but shallow river they had crossed several days before on the trail of the thieves.
misstepnounUS /mɪsˈstep/
an unintentional but embarrassing blunder
From this reading They were leading their mounts, for the way was so rough they did not want to risk a misstep on the faithful creatures’ part in the dark.
mountsnounUS /maʊnts/
plural of “mount” — a lightweight horse kept for riding only
From this reading They were leading their mounts, for the way was so rough they did not want to risk a misstep on the faithful creatures’ part in the dark.
mouthfulnounUS /ˈmaʊθfʊl/
the quantity that can be held in the mouth
From this reading “Just a mouthful of grass and a drink of water after it,” he said to his chum.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The horses’ sides were heaving and their heads hung almost to the ground; but Chet, as leader of the expedition, was not willing to allow them much rest.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They were leading their mounts, for the way was so rough they did not want to risk a misstep on the faithful creatures’ part in the dark.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the dim dusk of late evening the trail boys suddenly came down to the river bank.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They were leading their mounts, for the way was so rough they did not want to risk a misstep on the faithful creatures’ part in the dark.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading They were leading their mounts, for the way was so rough they did not want to risk a misstep on the faithful creatures’ part in the dark.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading The horses’ sides were heaving and their heads hung almost to the ground; but Chet, as leader of the expedition, was not willing to allow them much rest.
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading They were leading their mounts, for the way was so rough they did not want to risk a misstep on the faithful creatures’ part in the dark.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading In the dim dusk of late evening the trail boys suddenly came down to the river bank.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading They were leading their mounts, for the way was so rough they did not want to risk a misstep on the faithful creatures’ part in the dark.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Just a mouthful of grass and a drink of water after it,” he said to his chum.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading As Chet Havens expected, the stream they had followed so long—almost from the valley where they had corralled the buffaloes—fell into the wide but shallow river they had crossed several days before on the trail of the thieves.
shallowadjectiveUS /ˈʃæloʊ/
lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center
From this reading As Chet Havens expected, the stream they had followed so long—almost from the valley where they had corralled the buffaloes—fell into the wide but shallow river they had crossed several days before on the trail of the thieves.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The horses’ sides were heaving and their heads hung almost to the ground; but Chet, as leader of the expedition, was not willing to allow them much rest.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They were leading their mounts, for the way was so rough they did not want to risk a misstep on the faithful creatures’ part in the dark.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading As Chet Havens expected, the stream they had followed so long—almost from the valley where they had corralled the buffaloes—fell into the wide but shallow river they had crossed several days before on the trail of the thieves.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading In the dim dusk of late evening the trail boys suddenly came down to the river bank.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the dim dusk of late evening the trail boys suddenly came down to the river bank.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They were leading their mounts, for the way was so rough they did not want to risk a misstep on the faithful creatures’ part in the dark.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The horses’ sides were heaving and their heads hung almost to the ground; but Chet, as leader of the expedition, was not willing to allow them much rest.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were leading their mounts, for the way was so rough they did not want to risk a misstep on the faithful creatures’ part in the dark.
thievesnounUS /θiːvz/
plural of “thief” — a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading As Chet Havens expected, the stream they had followed so long—almost from the valley where they had corralled the buffaloes—fell into the wide but shallow river they had crossed several days before on the trail of the thieves.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the dim dusk of late evening the trail boys suddenly came down to the river bank.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading In the dim dusk of late evening the trail boys suddenly came down to the river bank.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading As Chet Havens expected, the stream they had followed so long—almost from the valley where they had corralled the buffaloes—fell into the wide but shallow river they had crossed several days before on the trail of the thieves.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading They were leading their mounts, for the way was so rough they did not want to risk a misstep on the faithful creatures’ part in the dark.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They were leading their mounts, for the way was so rough they did not want to risk a misstep on the faithful creatures’ part in the dark.
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 “Just a mouthful of grass and a drink of water after it,” he said to his chum.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading They were leading their mounts, for the way was so rough they did not want to risk a misstep on the faithful creatures’ part in the dark.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were leading their mounts, for the way was so rough they did not want to risk a misstep on the faithful creatures’ part in the dark.
in or at the place that
From this reading As Chet Havens expected, the stream they had followed so long—almost from the valley where they had corralled the buffaloes—fell into the wide but shallow river they had crossed several days before on the trail of the thieves.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading As Chet Havens expected, the stream they had followed so long—almost from the valley where they had corralled the buffaloes—fell into the wide but shallow river they had crossed several days before on the trail of the thieves.
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading The horses’ sides were heaving and their heads hung almost to the ground; but Chet, as leader of the expedition, was not willing to allow them much rest.
