used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
appetitenounUS /ˈæpətaɪt/
a feeling of craving something
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The maiden was pale and sad: her dreamy eye wandered around with a distraught expression.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She listened hardly to what her brothers said, and would certainly have been greatly embarrassed to describe the conversation, for her mind was elsewhere.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
bois-de-vache
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading She listened hardly to what her brothers said, and would certainly have been greatly embarrassed to describe the conversation, for her mind was elsewhere.
Cedar's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The three men were Red Cedar's sons; the female was Ellen.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading She listened hardly to what her brothers said, and would certainly have been greatly embarrassed to describe the conversation, for her mind was elsewhere.
chattingverbUS /ˈtʃætɪŋ/
inflected form of “chat” — talk socially without exchanging too much information
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
clumpnounUS /klʌmp/
a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading She listened hardly to what her brothers said, and would certainly have been greatly embarrassed to describe the conversation, for her mind was elsewhere.
denseadjectiveUS /dens/
permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
give a description of
From this reading She listened hardly to what her brothers said, and would certainly have been greatly embarrassed to describe the conversation, for her mind was elsewhere.
distraughtadjectiveUS /dɪˈstrɔːt/
deeply agitated especially from emotion
From this reading The maiden was pale and sad: her dreamy eye wandered around with a distraught expression.
dreamyadjectiveUS /ˈdriːmi/
dreamy in mood or nature
From this reading The maiden was pale and sad: her dreamy eye wandered around with a distraught expression.
Ellen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The three men were Red Cedar's sons; the female was Ellen.
elsewhereadverbUS /ˈelswer/
in or to another place
From this reading She listened hardly to what her brothers said, and would certainly have been greatly embarrassed to describe the conversation, for her mind was elsewhere.
embarrassedadjectiveUS /ɪmˈberəst/
feeling or caused to feel ill at ease or self-conscious or ashamed
From this reading She listened hardly to what her brothers said, and would certainly have been greatly embarrassed to describe the conversation, for her mind was elsewhere.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading The maiden was pale and sad: her dreamy eye wandered around with a distraught expression.
the organ of sight
From this reading The maiden was pale and sad: her dreamy eye wandered around with a distraught expression.
FenounUS /feɪ/
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
being the sex (of plant or animal) that produces fertilizable gametes (ova) from which offspring develop
From this reading The three men were Red Cedar's sons; the female was Ellen.
start firing a weapon
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She listened hardly to what her brothers said, and would certainly have been greatly embarrassed to describe the conversation, for her mind was elsewhere.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading She listened hardly to what her brothers said, and would certainly have been greatly embarrassed to describe the conversation, for her mind was elsewhere.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
only a very short time before
From this reading She listened hardly to what her brothers said, and would certainly have been greatly embarrassed to describe the conversation, for her mind was elsewhere.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She listened hardly to what her brothers said, and would certainly have been greatly embarrassed to describe the conversation, for her mind was elsewhere.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The maiden was pale and sad: her dreamy eye wandered around with a distraught expression.
leaguenounUS /liːɡ/
an association of sports teams that organizes matches for its members
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading She listened hardly to what her brothers said, and would certainly have been greatly embarrassed to describe the conversation, for her mind was elsewhere.
an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)
From this reading The maiden was pale and sad: her dreamy eye wandered around with a distraught expression.
the force of workers available
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading She listened hardly to what her brothers said, and would certainly have been greatly embarrassed to describe the conversation, for her mind was elsewhere.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading The maiden was pale and sad: her dreamy eye wandered around with a distraught expression.
PSYCHOLOGICALadjectiveUS /ˌsaɪkəˈlɑːdʒɪkəl/
mental or emotional as opposed to physical in nature
From this reading PSYCHOLOGICAL.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading The three men were Red Cedar's sons; the female was Ellen.
renderingnounUS /ˈrendərɪŋ/
a performance of a musical composition or a dramatic role etc.
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading The maiden was pale and sad: her dreamy eye wandered around with a distraught expression.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading She listened hardly to what her brothers said, and would certainly have been greatly embarrassed to describe the conversation, for her mind was elsewhere.
SantanounUS /ˈsæntə/
the legendary patron saint of children; an imaginary being who is thought to bring presents to children at Christmas
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She listened hardly to what her brothers said, and would certainly have been greatly embarrassed to describe the conversation, for her mind was elsewhere.
shelteredadjectiveUS /ˈʃeltərd/
protected from danger or bad weather
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
plural of “son” — a male human offspring
From this reading The three men were Red Cedar's sons; the female was Ellen.
suppingnoun
ingestion of liquid food with a spoon or by drinking
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
unseenadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːn/
not seen or perceived
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading The maiden was pale and sad: her dreamy eye wandered around with a distraught expression.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The three men were Red Cedar's sons; the female was Ellen.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She listened hardly to what her brothers said, and would certainly have been greatly embarrassed to describe the conversation, for her mind was elsewhere.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
in the company of; together with
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading About half a league to the west of Santa Fe three men and a woman were seated behind a dense clump of trees, which sheltered while rendering them unseen, over a _bois-de-vache_ fire, supping with good appetite, and chatting together.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She listened hardly to what her brothers said, and would certainly have been greatly embarrassed to describe the conversation, for her mind was elsewhere.
