used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A small company of men were sitting about a camp-fire on the prairie, enjoying their pipes and chatting.
aboriginaladjectiveUS /ˌæbərˈɪdʒənəl/
characteristic of or relating to people inhabiting a region from the beginning
From this reading The men were typical specimens of the class of hardy, honest, true-hearted hunters, who held a proprietary right over the prairies second only to those of the aboriginal possessors.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A small company of men were sitting about a camp-fire on the prairie, enjoying their pipes and chatting.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading They were all trappers and traders.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A small company of men were sitting about a camp-fire on the prairie, enjoying their pipes and chatting.
bandsnounUS /bændz/
plural of “band” — an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading Their deerskin coats, with embroidered bands and fringed shoulders, were tanned soft, and soiled from constant wear.
beadedadjectiveUS /ˈbiːdɪd/
covered with beads of liquid
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
beltsnounUS /belts/
plural of “belt” — endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
camp-fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A small company of men were sitting about a camp-fire on the prairie, enjoying their pipes and chatting.
cartridgenounUS /ˈkɑːrtrədʒ/
ammunition consisting of a cylindrical casing containing an explosive charge and a bullet; fired from a rifle or handgun
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
chattingverbUS /ˈtʃætɪŋ/
inflected form of “chat” — talk socially without exchanging too much information
From this reading A small company of men were sitting about a camp-fire on the prairie, enjoying their pipes and chatting.
a collection of things sharing a common attribute
From this reading The men were typical specimens of the class of hardy, honest, true-hearted hunters, who held a proprietary right over the prairies second only to those of the aboriginal possessors.
coatsnounUS /koʊts/
plural of “coat” — an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading Their deerskin coats, with embroidered bands and fringed shoulders, were tanned soft, and soiled from constant wear.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading A small company of men were sitting about a camp-fire on the prairie, enjoying their pipes and chatting.
unvarying in nature
From this reading Their deerskin coats, with embroidered bands and fringed shoulders, were tanned soft, and soiled from constant wear.
deerskinnounUS /ˈdɪrskɪn/
leather from the hide of a deer
From this reading Their deerskin coats, with embroidered bands and fringed shoulders, were tanned soft, and soiled from constant wear.
embroideredverbUS /emˈbrɔɪdərd/
past form of “embroider” — decorate with needlework
From this reading Their deerskin coats, with embroidered bands and fringed shoulders, were tanned soft, and soiled from constant wear.
enjoyingverbUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading A small company of men were sitting about a camp-fire on the prairie, enjoying their pipes and chatting.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
fringedadjective
surrounded as with a border or fringe; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Their deerskin coats, with embroidered bands and fringed shoulders, were tanned soft, and soiled from constant wear.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Their deerskin coats, with embroidered bands and fringed shoulders, were tanned soft, and soiled from constant wear.
usually; as a rule
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
half-breeds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
hardyadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdi/
having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
From this reading The men were typical specimens of the class of hardy, honest, true-hearted hunters, who held a proprietary right over the prairies second only to those of the aboriginal possessors.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The men were typical specimens of the class of hardy, honest, true-hearted hunters, who held a proprietary right over the prairies second only to those of the aboriginal possessors.
not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent
From this reading The men were typical specimens of the class of hardy, honest, true-hearted hunters, who held a proprietary right over the prairies second only to those of the aboriginal possessors.
huntersnounUS /ˈhʌntərz/
plural of “hunter” — someone who hunts game
From this reading The men were typical specimens of the class of hardy, honest, true-hearted hunters, who held a proprietary right over the prairies second only to those of the aboriginal possessors.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
leathern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
leggingsnounUS /ˈleɡɪŋz/
plural of “legging” — a garment covering the leg (usually extending from the knee to the ankle)
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
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 The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
the force of workers available
From this reading A small company of men were sitting about a camp-fire on the prairie, enjoying their pipes and chatting.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A small company of men were sitting about a camp-fire on the prairie, enjoying their pipes and chatting.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A small company of men were sitting about a camp-fire on the prairie, enjoying their pipes and chatting.
and nothing more
From this reading The men were typical specimens of the class of hardy, honest, true-hearted hunters, who held a proprietary right over the prairies second only to those of the aboriginal possessors.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The men were typical specimens of the class of hardy, honest, true-hearted hunters, who held a proprietary right over the prairies second only to those of the aboriginal possessors.
pipesnounUS /paɪps/
plural of “pipe” — a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading A small company of men were sitting about a camp-fire on the prairie, enjoying their pipes and chatting.
possessors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men were typical specimens of the class of hardy, honest, true-hearted hunters, who held a proprietary right over the prairies second only to those of the aboriginal possessors.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading A small company of men were sitting about a camp-fire on the prairie, enjoying their pipes and chatting.
prairiesnounUS /ˈpreɪriz/
plural of “prairie” — a treeless grassy plain
From this reading The men were typical specimens of the class of hardy, honest, true-hearted hunters, who held a proprietary right over the prairies second only to those of the aboriginal possessors.
proprietarynounUS /prəˈpraɪəteri/
an unincorporated business owned by a single person who is responsible for its liabilities and entitled to its profits
From this reading The men were typical specimens of the class of hardy, honest, true-hearted hunters, who held a proprietary right over the prairies second only to those of the aboriginal possessors.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
replacedverbUS /ˌriːˈpleɪst/
past form of “replace” — substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected)
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
revolversnounUS /rɪˈvɑːlvərz/
plural of “revolver” — a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
precisely, exactly
From this reading The men were typical specimens of the class of hardy, honest, true-hearted hunters, who held a proprietary right over the prairies second only to those of the aboriginal possessors.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading The men were typical specimens of the class of hardy, honest, true-hearted hunters, who held a proprietary right over the prairies second only to those of the aboriginal possessors.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
sheathnounUS /ʃiːθ/
a protective covering (as for a knife or sword)
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading Their deerskin coats, with embroidered bands and fringed shoulders, were tanned soft, and soiled from constant wear.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading A small company of men were sitting about a camp-fire on the prairie, enjoying their pipes and chatting.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A small company of men were sitting about a camp-fire on the prairie, enjoying their pipes and chatting.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading Their deerskin coats, with embroidered bands and fringed shoulders, were tanned soft, and soiled from constant wear.
soiledadjectiveUS /sɔɪld/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading Their deerskin coats, with embroidered bands and fringed shoulders, were tanned soft, and soiled from constant wear.
specimensnounUS /ˈspesəmənz/
plural of “specimen” — an example regarded as typical of its class
From this reading The men were typical specimens of the class of hardy, honest, true-hearted hunters, who held a proprietary right over the prairies second only to those of the aboriginal possessors.
stocksnounUS /stɑːks/
a frame that supports a boat while it is under construction
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
caught or fixed
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
tannedadjectiveUS /tænd/
(of skin) having a tan color from exposure to the sun
From this reading Their deerskin coats, with embroidered bands and fringed shoulders, were tanned soft, and soiled from constant wear.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A small company of men were sitting about a camp-fire on the prairie, enjoying their pipes and chatting.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A small company of men were sitting about a camp-fire on the prairie, enjoying their pipes and chatting.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were all trappers and traders.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The men were typical specimens of the class of hardy, honest, true-hearted hunters, who held a proprietary right over the prairies second only to those of the aboriginal possessors.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
tradersnounUS /ˈtreɪdərz/
plural of “trader” — someone who purchases and maintains an inventory of goods to be sold
From this reading They were all trappers and traders.
trappersnounUS /ˈtræpərz/
plural of “trapper” — someone who sets traps for animals (usually to obtain their furs)
From this reading They were all trappers and traders.
true-hearted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men were typical specimens of the class of hardy, honest, true-hearted hunters, who held a proprietary right over the prairies second only to those of the aboriginal possessors.
typicaladjectiveUS /ˈtɪpəkəl/
exhibiting the qualities or characteristics that identify a group or kind or category
From this reading The men were typical specimens of the class of hardy, honest, true-hearted hunters, who held a proprietary right over the prairies second only to those of the aboriginal possessors.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
be dressed in
From this reading Their deerskin coats, with embroidered bands and fringed shoulders, were tanned soft, and soiled from constant wear.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A small company of men were sitting about a camp-fire on the prairie, enjoying their pipes and chatting.
which person or people
From this reading The men were typical specimens of the class of hardy, honest, true-hearted hunters, who held a proprietary right over the prairies second only to those of the aboriginal possessors.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Their deerskin coats, with embroidered bands and fringed shoulders, were tanned soft, and soiled from constant wear.
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading The beaded leggings generally worn by the half-breeds were replaced by long boots that reached to the knee; their cartridge belts were well filled, the stocks of their revolvers bright, and the knife stuck in the beaded or leathern sheath was sharp and keen.
