used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
abilitiesnounUS /əˈbɪlətiːz/
plural of “ability” — the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment
From this reading It had been almost an act of condescension on his part to accept Scotty’s challenge to try out their respective riding abilities at the frontier fair.
consider or hold as true
From this reading It had been almost an act of condescension on his part to accept Scotty’s challenge to try out their respective riding abilities at the frontier fair.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading It had been almost an act of condescension on his part to accept Scotty’s challenge to try out their respective riding abilities at the frontier fair.
alchemynounUS /ˈælkəmi/
the way two individuals relate to each other
From this reading BY SUBTLE alchemy of thought Roderick’s feelings toward Scotty Meisch had become entirely changed.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It had been almost an act of condescension on his part to accept Scotty’s challenge to try out their respective riding abilities at the frontier fair.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It had been almost an act of condescension on his part to accept Scotty’s challenge to try out their respective riding abilities at the frontier fair.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On the ranch he had treated the rough, uncultivated and at times insolent youth with contempt that was scarcely concealed.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Any hurt the lad might have received in the contest was part of the day’s game, and at the moment Roderick had treated the incident with indifference.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
associatedverbUS /əˈsoʊsieɪtɪd/
past form of “associate” — make a logical or causal connection
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading On the ranch he had treated the rough, uncultivated and at times insolent youth with contempt that was scarcely concealed.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading BY SUBTLE alchemy of thought Roderick’s feelings toward Scotty Meisch had become entirely changed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been almost an act of condescension on his part to accept Scotty’s challenge to try out their respective riding abilities at the frontier fair.
breedingnounUS /ˈbriːdɪŋ/
elegance by virtue of fineness of manner and expression
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading BY SUBTLE alchemy of thought Roderick’s feelings toward Scotty Meisch had become entirely changed.
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
challengeverbUS /ˈtʃæləndʒ/
take exception to
From this reading It had been almost an act of condescension on his part to accept Scotty’s challenge to try out their respective riding abilities at the frontier fair.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading BY SUBTLE alchemy of thought Roderick’s feelings toward Scotty Meisch had become entirely changed.
a collection of things sharing a common attribute
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
not accessible to view
From this reading On the ranch he had treated the rough, uncultivated and at times insolent youth with contempt that was scarcely concealed.
condescensionnounUS /ˌkɑːndəˈsenʃən/
the trait of displaying arrogance by patronizing those considered inferior
From this reading It had been almost an act of condescension on his part to accept Scotty’s challenge to try out their respective riding abilities at the frontier fair.
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
From this reading On the ranch he had treated the rough, uncultivated and at times insolent youth with contempt that was scarcely concealed.
contestnounUS /ˈkɑːntest/
an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants
From this reading Any hurt the lad might have received in the contest was part of the day’s game, and at the moment Roderick had treated the incident with indifference.
countedverbUS /ˈkaʊntɪd/
past form of “count” — determine the number or amount of
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
day'snounUS /deɪz/
possessive form of “day” — time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Any hurt the lad might have received in the contest was part of the day’s game, and at the moment Roderick had treated the incident with indifference.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading BY SUBTLE alchemy of thought Roderick’s feelings toward Scotty Meisch had become entirely changed.
apart from; not including
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading It had been almost an act of condescension on his part to accept Scotty’s challenge to try out their respective riding abilities at the frontier fair.
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading BY SUBTLE alchemy of thought Roderick’s feelings toward Scotty Meisch had become entirely changed.
a boy or man
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
frontiernounUS /frənˈtɪr/
a wilderness at the edge of a settled area of a country
From this reading It had been almost an act of condescension on his part to accept Scotty’s challenge to try out their respective riding abilities at the frontier fair.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading Any hurt the lad might have received in the contest was part of the day’s game, and at the moment Roderick had treated the incident with indifference.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading BY SUBTLE alchemy of thought Roderick’s feelings toward Scotty Meisch had become entirely changed.
handlingnounUS /ˈhændlɪŋ/
manual (or mechanical) carrying or moving or delivering or working with something
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Any hurt the lad might have received in the contest was part of the day’s game, and at the moment Roderick had treated the incident with indifference.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On the ranch he had treated the rough, uncultivated and at times insolent youth with contempt that was scarcely concealed.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
be the source of pain
From this reading Any hurt the lad might have received in the contest was part of the day’s game, and at the moment Roderick had treated the incident with indifference.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
a single distinct event
From this reading Any hurt the lad might have received in the contest was part of the day’s game, and at the moment Roderick had treated the incident with indifference.
indifferencenounUS /ˌɪnˈdɪfərəns/
unbiased impartial unconcern
From this reading Any hurt the lad might have received in the contest was part of the day’s game, and at the moment Roderick had treated the incident with indifference.
insolentadjectiveUS /ˈɪnsələnt/
marked by casual disrespect
From this reading On the ranch he had treated the rough, uncultivated and at times insolent youth with contempt that was scarcely concealed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had been almost an act of condescension on his part to accept Scotty’s challenge to try out their respective riding abilities at the frontier fair.
a boy or man
From this reading Any hurt the lad might have received in the contest was part of the day’s game, and at the moment Roderick had treated the incident with indifference.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
Meisch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BY SUBTLE alchemy of thought Roderick’s feelings toward Scotty Meisch had become entirely changed.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Any hurt the lad might have received in the contest was part of the day’s game, and at the moment Roderick had treated the incident with indifference.
mobnounUS /mɑːb/
a disorderly crowd of people
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
a particular point in time
From this reading Any hurt the lad might have received in the contest was part of the day’s game, and at the moment Roderick had treated the incident with indifference.
absolutely essential
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BY SUBTLE alchemy of thought Roderick’s feelings toward Scotty Meisch had become entirely changed.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the ranch he had treated the rough, uncultivated and at times insolent youth with contempt that was scarcely concealed.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It had been almost an act of condescension on his part to accept Scotty’s challenge to try out their respective riding abilities at the frontier fair.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading It had been almost an act of condescension on his part to accept Scotty’s challenge to try out their respective riding abilities at the frontier fair.
ranchnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading On the ranch he had treated the rough, uncultivated and at times insolent youth with contempt that was scarcely concealed.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Any hurt the lad might have received in the contest was part of the day’s game, and at the moment Roderick had treated the incident with indifference.
respectiveadjectiveUS /rɪˈspektɪv/
considered individually
From this reading It had been almost an act of condescension on his part to accept Scotty’s challenge to try out their respective riding abilities at the frontier fair.
the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements
From this reading It had been almost an act of condescension on his part to accept Scotty’s challenge to try out their respective riding abilities at the frontier fair.
Roderick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
Roderick's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BY SUBTLE alchemy of thought Roderick’s feelings toward Scotty Meisch had become entirely changed.
ropingnounUS /ˈroʊpɪŋ/
capturing cattle or horses with a lasso
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading On the ranch he had treated the rough, uncultivated and at times insolent youth with contempt that was scarcely concealed.
only a very short time before
From this reading On the ranch he had treated the rough, uncultivated and at times insolent youth with contempt that was scarcely concealed.
Scotty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BY SUBTLE alchemy of thought Roderick’s feelings toward Scotty Meisch had become entirely changed.
Scotty's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been almost an act of condescension on his part to accept Scotty’s challenge to try out their respective riding abilities at the frontier fair.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
steerverbUS /stɪr/
direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
SUBTLEadjectiveUS /ˈsʌtəl/
difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
From this reading BY SUBTLE alchemy of thought Roderick’s feelings toward Scotty Meisch had become entirely changed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading On the ranch he had treated the rough, uncultivated and at times insolent youth with contempt that was scarcely concealed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On the ranch he had treated the rough, uncultivated and at times insolent youth with contempt that was scarcely concealed.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It had been almost an act of condescension on his part to accept Scotty’s challenge to try out their respective riding abilities at the frontier fair.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading BY SUBTLE alchemy of thought Roderick’s feelings toward Scotty Meisch had become entirely changed.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading On the ranch he had treated the rough, uncultivated and at times insolent youth with contempt that was scarcely concealed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading BY SUBTLE alchemy of thought Roderick’s feelings toward Scotty Meisch had become entirely changed.
subjected to a physical (or chemical) treatment or action or agent
From this reading On the ranch he had treated the rough, uncultivated and at times insolent youth with contempt that was scarcely concealed.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading It had been almost an act of condescension on his part to accept Scotty’s challenge to try out their respective riding abilities at the frontier fair.
uncultivatedadjective
(of land or fields) not prepared for raising crops
From this reading On the ranch he had treated the rough, uncultivated and at times insolent youth with contempt that was scarcely concealed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On the ranch he had treated the rough, uncultivated and at times insolent youth with contempt that was scarcely concealed.
in the company of; together with
From this reading On the ranch he had treated the rough, uncultivated and at times insolent youth with contempt that was scarcely concealed.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He was not of his class; and Roderick by his manner had shown that he counted Scotty as outside the pale of good breeding—a fellow not to be associated with except in the necessary work of roping a steer or handling a mob of cattle.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading On the ranch he had treated the rough, uncultivated and at times insolent youth with contempt that was scarcely concealed.
