used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Out of the cabin bounded a dog, a huge mastiff.
ain't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Kind of thinkin’ things over now, ain’t ye?” the woman cackled.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The old woman who stood before them, gun in hand, whistled shrilly.
boundedadjectiveUS /ˈbaʊndəd/
having the limits or boundaries established
From this reading Out of the cabin bounded a dog, a huge mastiff.
BUGnounUS /bʌɡ/
general term for any insect or similar creeping or crawling invertebrate
From this reading BUG EYE SINGS The small group of riders in that clearing in Thunder Canyon sat silent on ponies that pawed the ground restlessly.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading Out of the cabin bounded a dog, a huge mastiff.
cackled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Kind of thinkin’ things over now, ain’t ye?” the woman cackled.
CanyonnounUS /ˈkænjən/
a ravine formed by a river in an area with little rainfall
From this reading BUG EYE SINGS The small group of riders in that clearing in Thunder Canyon sat silent on ponies that pawed the ground restlessly.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading BUG EYE SINGS The small group of riders in that clearing in Thunder Canyon sat silent on ponies that pawed the ground restlessly.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading Out of the cabin bounded a dog, a huge mastiff.
the organ of sight
From this reading BUG EYE SINGS The small group of riders in that clearing in Thunder Canyon sat silent on ponies that pawed the ground restlessly.
fellersnounUS /ˈfelərz/
plural of “feller” — a person who fells trees
From this reading “You fellers jest keep yer hands on the pommels of yer saddles—no lower.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading BUG EYE SINGS The small group of riders in that clearing in Thunder Canyon sat silent on ponies that pawed the ground restlessly.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading BUG EYE SINGS The small group of riders in that clearing in Thunder Canyon sat silent on ponies that pawed the ground restlessly.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading The old woman who stood before them, gun in hand, whistled shrilly.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The old woman who stood before them, gun in hand, whistled shrilly.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading “You fellers jest keep yer hands on the pommels of yer saddles—no lower.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Out of the cabin bounded a dog, a huge mastiff.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading BUG EYE SINGS The small group of riders in that clearing in Thunder Canyon sat silent on ponies that pawed the ground restlessly.
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading “You fellers jest keep yer hands on the pommels of yer saddles—no lower.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading “You fellers jest keep yer hands on the pommels of yer saddles—no lower.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading “Kind of thinkin’ things over now, ain’t ye?” the woman cackled.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading “You fellers jest keep yer hands on the pommels of yer saddles—no lower.
mastiffnounUS /ˈmæstəf/
an old breed of powerful deep-chested smooth-coated dog used chiefly as a watchdog and guard dog
From this reading Out of the cabin bounded a dog, a huge mastiff.
not any; not one
From this reading “You fellers jest keep yer hands on the pommels of yer saddles—no lower.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Kind of thinkin’ things over now, ain’t ye?” the woman cackled.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BUG EYE SINGS The small group of riders in that clearing in Thunder Canyon sat silent on ponies that pawed the ground restlessly.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The old woman who stood before them, gun in hand, whistled shrilly.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading BUG EYE SINGS The small group of riders in that clearing in Thunder Canyon sat silent on ponies that pawed the ground restlessly.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Out of the cabin bounded a dog, a huge mastiff.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading “Kind of thinkin’ things over now, ain’t ye?” the woman cackled.
pawedverbUS /pɔːd/
past form of “paw” — scrape with the paws
From this reading BUG EYE SINGS The small group of riders in that clearing in Thunder Canyon sat silent on ponies that pawed the ground restlessly.
pommels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You fellers jest keep yer hands on the pommels of yer saddles—no lower.
poniesnounUS /ˈpoʊniz/
plural of “pony” — a range horse of the western United States
From this reading BUG EYE SINGS The small group of riders in that clearing in Thunder Canyon sat silent on ponies that pawed the ground restlessly.
restlesslyadverbUS /ˈrestləsli/
in a restless manner
From this reading BUG EYE SINGS The small group of riders in that clearing in Thunder Canyon sat silent on ponies that pawed the ground restlessly.
ridersnounUS /ˈraɪdərz/
plural of “rider” — a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)
From this reading BUG EYE SINGS The small group of riders in that clearing in Thunder Canyon sat silent on ponies that pawed the ground restlessly.
saddlesnounUS /ˈsædəlz/
plural of “saddle” — a seat for the rider of a horse or other animal
From this reading “You fellers jest keep yer hands on the pommels of yer saddles—no lower.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading BUG EYE SINGS The small group of riders in that clearing in Thunder Canyon sat silent on ponies that pawed the ground restlessly.
shrillyadverb
in a shrill voice
From this reading The old woman who stood before them, gun in hand, whistled shrilly.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading BUG EYE SINGS The small group of riders in that clearing in Thunder Canyon sat silent on ponies that pawed the ground restlessly.
SINGSverbUS /sɪŋz/
third-person singular of “sing” — deliver by singing
From this reading BUG EYE SINGS The small group of riders in that clearing in Thunder Canyon sat silent on ponies that pawed the ground restlessly.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading BUG EYE SINGS The small group of riders in that clearing in Thunder Canyon sat silent on ponies that pawed the ground restlessly.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The old woman who stood before them, gun in hand, whistled shrilly.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading BUG EYE SINGS The small group of riders in that clearing in Thunder Canyon sat silent on ponies that pawed the ground restlessly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BUG EYE SINGS The small group of riders in that clearing in Thunder Canyon sat silent on ponies that pawed the ground restlessly.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The old woman who stood before them, gun in hand, whistled shrilly.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading “Kind of thinkin’ things over now, ain’t ye?” the woman cackled.
thinkin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Kind of thinkin’ things over now, ain’t ye?” the woman cackled.
move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading BUG EYE SINGS The small group of riders in that clearing in Thunder Canyon sat silent on ponies that pawed the ground restlessly.
whistledverbUS /ˈwɪsəld/
past form of “whistle” — make whistling sounds
From this reading The old woman who stood before them, gun in hand, whistled shrilly.
which person or people
From this reading The old woman who stood before them, gun in hand, whistled shrilly.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The old woman who stood before them, gun in hand, whistled shrilly.
an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person
From this reading “Kind of thinkin’ things over now, ain’t ye?” the woman cackled.
yer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You fellers jest keep yer hands on the pommels of yer saddles—no lower.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You fellers jest keep yer hands on the pommels of yer saddles—no lower.
