used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Shortly after dark they had filed into the gully, having come directly from the Circle L.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Hours before, they had got off their horses to stretch their legs, and to wait.
bitingadjectiveUS /ˈbaɪtɪŋ/
capable of wounding
From this reading It was cold--even in the gulley where the low moaning, biting wind did not reach them--and they knew they could have no fire.
BlackburnnounUS /ˈblækbərn/
black-and-white North American wood warbler having an orange-and-black head and throat
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
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 PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading It was cold--even in the gulley where the low moaning, biting wind did not reach them--and they knew they could have no fire.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Shortly after dark they had filed into the gully, having come directly from the Circle L.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was cold--even in the gulley where the low moaning, biting wind did not reach them--and they knew they could have no fire.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Shortly after dark they had filed into the gully, having come directly from the Circle L.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It was cold--even in the gulley where the low moaning, biting wind did not reach them--and they knew they could have no fire.
without deviation
From this reading Shortly after dark they had filed into the gully, having come directly from the Circle L.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
divisible by two
From this reading It was cold--even in the gulley where the low moaning, biting wind did not reach them--and they knew they could have no fire.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
filedverbUS /faɪld/
past form of “file” — record in a public office or in a court of law
From this reading Shortly after dark they had filed into the gully, having come directly from the Circle L.
start firing a weapon
From this reading It was cold--even in the gulley where the low moaning, biting wind did not reach them--and they knew they could have no fire.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Hours before, they had got off their horses to stretch their legs, and to wait.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading And now they had grown impatient.
gulley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was cold--even in the gulley where the low moaning, biting wind did not reach them--and they knew they could have no fire.
gullynounUS /ˈɡʌli/
deep ditch cut by running water (especially after a prolonged downpour)
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
Hamlin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was cold--even in the gulley where the low moaning, biting wind did not reach them--and they knew they could have no fire.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Shortly after dark they had filed into the gully, having come directly from the Circle L.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading Hours before, they had got off their horses to stretch their legs, and to wait.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Hours before, they had got off their horses to stretch their legs, and to wait.
restless or short-tempered under delay or opposition
From this reading And now they had grown impatient.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
INSTINCTSnounUS /ˈɪnstɪŋkts/
plural of “instinct” — inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Shortly after dark they had filed into the gully, having come directly from the Circle L.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was cold--even in the gulley where the low moaning, biting wind did not reach them--and they knew they could have no fire.
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 It was cold--even in the gulley where the low moaning, biting wind did not reach them--and they knew they could have no fire.
a metric unit of capacity, formerly defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water under standard conditions; now equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters (or approximately 1.75 pints)
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
staying power
From this reading Hours before, they had got off their horses to stretch their legs, and to wait.
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 PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading It was cold--even in the gulley where the low moaning, biting wind did not reach them--and they knew they could have no fire.
the force of workers available
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
moaningverbUS /ˈmoʊnɪŋ/
-ing form of “moan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
From this reading It was cold--even in the gulley where the low moaning, biting wind did not reach them--and they knew they could have no fire.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
not any; not one
From this reading It was cold--even in the gulley where the low moaning, biting wind did not reach them--and they knew they could have no fire.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was cold--even in the gulley where the low moaning, biting wind did not reach them--and they knew they could have no fire.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading And now they had grown impatient.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Hours before, they had got off their horses to stretch their legs, and to wait.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
plainsnounUS /pleɪnz/
plural of “plain” — extensive tract of level open land
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
PRIMITIVEadjectiveUS /ˈprɪmətɪv/
belonging to an early stage of technical development; characterized by simplicity and (often) crudeness
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading It was cold--even in the gulley where the low moaning, biting wind did not reach them--and they knew they could have no fire.
rustlersnounUS /ˈrʌsələrz/
plural of “rustler” — someone who steals livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
for a short time
From this reading Shortly after dark they had filed into the gully, having come directly from the Circle L.
Shorty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
the season of growth
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading Hours before, they had got off their horses to stretch their legs, and to wait.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Hours before, they had got off their horses to stretch their legs, and to wait.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Shortly after dark they had filed into the gully, having come directly from the Circle L.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Hours before, they had got off their horses to stretch their legs, and to wait.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Hours before, they had got off their horses to stretch their legs, and to wait.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was cold--even in the gulley where the low moaning, biting wind did not reach them--and they knew they could have no fire.
in or at the place that
From this reading It was cold--even in the gulley where the low moaning, biting wind did not reach them--and they knew they could have no fire.
which person or people
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading It was cold--even in the gulley where the low moaning, biting wind did not reach them--and they knew they could have no fire.
in the company of; together with
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
people who are wounded
From this reading PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS Shorty and a dozen Circle L men--among them Blackburn and the three others who had been wounded in the fight with the rustlers on the plains the previous spring--had been waiting long in a gully at a distance of a mile or more from the Hamlin cabin.
