Chapter I · Chapter 1

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

deserving of the highest esteem or admiration

From this reading The stranger seemed taller on the ground than in the saddle and an admirable breadth of shoulder and slenderness of waist told eloquently of strength.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The stranger seemed taller on the ground than in the saddle and an admirable breadth of shoulder and slenderness of waist told eloquently of strength.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The stranger seemed taller on the ground than in the saddle and an admirable breadth of shoulder and slenderness of waist told eloquently of strength.

from appearances alone

From this reading But apparently the shooter saw no such signs.

past form of “approach” — move towards

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He could not have been over twenty-five or six.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading In the first glance that had been exchanged between the two men there had been a lack of ordinary cordiality.

the capacity to understand a broad range of topics

From this reading The stranger seemed taller on the ground than in the saddle and an admirable breadth of shoulder and slenderness of waist told eloquently of strength.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But apparently the shooter saw no such signs.

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

marked by blithe unconcern

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

the protruding part of the lower jaw

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

a cordial disposition

From this reading In the first glance that had been exchanged between the two men there had been a lack of ordinary cordiality.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading He could not have been over twenty-five or six.

with eloquence

From this reading The stranger seemed taller on the ground than in the saddle and an admirable breadth of shoulder and slenderness of waist told eloquently of strength.

changed for (replaced by) something different

From this reading In the first glance that had been exchanged between the two men there had been a lack of ordinary cordiality.

opinion or judgment

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading In the first glance that had been exchanged between the two men there had been a lack of ordinary cordiality.

a powerful effect or influence

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

at or to or toward the front

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading In the first glance that had been exchanged between the two men there had been a lack of ordinary cordiality.

be shiny, as if wet

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading The stranger seemed taller on the ground than in the saddle and an admirable breadth of shoulder and slenderness of waist told eloquently of strength.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading In the first glance that had been exchanged between the two men there had been a lack of ordinary cordiality.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He could not have been over twenty-five or six.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He could not have been over twenty-five or six.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The stranger seemed taller on the ground than in the saddle and an admirable breadth of shoulder and slenderness of waist told eloquently of strength.

not capable of being precisely or readily described; not easily put into words

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable

From this reading In the first glance that had been exchanged between the two men there had been a lack of ordinary cordiality.

plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

the force of workers available

From this reading In the first glance that had been exchanged between the two men there had been a lack of ordinary cordiality.

showing your contempt by derision

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

not any; not one

From this reading But apparently the shooter saw no such signs.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He could not have been over twenty-five or six.

a person who becomes aware (of things or events) through the senses

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The stranger seemed taller on the ground than in the saddle and an admirable breadth of shoulder and slenderness of waist told eloquently of strength.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The stranger seemed taller on the ground than in the saddle and an admirable breadth of shoulder and slenderness of waist told eloquently of strength.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He could not have been over twenty-five or six.

a judge of a probate court

From this reading In the first glance that had been exchanged between the two men there had been a lack of ordinary cordiality.

above and across; more than

From this reading He could not have been over twenty-five or six.

strongly marked; easily noticeable

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

send out rays or waves

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

put a saddle on

From this reading The stranger seemed taller on the ground than in the saddle and an admirable breadth of shoulder and slenderness of waist told eloquently of strength.

cut with a saw

From this reading But apparently the shooter saw no such signs.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading The stranger seemed taller on the ground than in the saddle and an admirable breadth of shoulder and slenderness of waist told eloquently of strength.

a large marble used for shooting in the game of marbles

From this reading But apparently the shooter saw no such signs.

lift onto one's shoulders

From this reading The stranger seemed taller on the ground than in the saddle and an admirable breadth of shoulder and slenderness of waist told eloquently of strength.

plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)

From this reading But apparently the shooter saw no such signs.

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading He could not have been over twenty-five or six.

the quality of being slight or inadequate

From this reading The stranger seemed taller on the ground than in the saddle and an admirable breadth of shoulder and slenderness of waist told eloquently of strength.

anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading The stranger seemed taller on the ground than in the saddle and an admirable breadth of shoulder and slenderness of waist told eloquently of strength.

the property of being physically or mentally strong

From this reading The stranger seemed taller on the ground than in the saddle and an admirable breadth of shoulder and slenderness of waist told eloquently of strength.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading But apparently the shooter saw no such signs.

comparative of “tall” — great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading The stranger seemed taller on the ground than in the saddle and an admirable breadth of shoulder and slenderness of waist told eloquently of strength.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The stranger seemed taller on the ground than in the saddle and an admirable breadth of shoulder and slenderness of waist told eloquently of strength.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The stranger seemed taller on the ground than in the saddle and an admirable breadth of shoulder and slenderness of waist told eloquently of strength.

in or at that place or location

From this reading In the first glance that had been exchanged between the two men there had been a lack of ordinary cordiality.

push forcefully

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading The stranger seemed taller on the ground than in the saddle and an admirable breadth of shoulder and slenderness of waist told eloquently of strength.

being five more than twenty

From this reading He could not have been over twenty-five or six.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading In the first glance that had been exchanged between the two men there had been a lack of ordinary cordiality.

the narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips

From this reading The stranger seemed taller on the ground than in the saddle and an admirable breadth of shoulder and slenderness of waist told eloquently of strength.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

which person or people

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet certain hard lines about his mouth, the glint of mockery in his eyes, the pronounced forward thrust of the chin, the indefinable force that seemed to radiate from him, told the casual observer that here was a man who must be approached with care.