used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Breed saw one coyote in a trail trap and he forswore the following of cow trails.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After once his scent was cold the coyotes had nothing to warn them of these sets, but trail trapping is largely chance and not productive of great results.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The number of coyotes in Collins' territory had been cut down by half and only the wisest were left.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As they grew more trap-wise the wolfer increased the cunning of his sets.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The number of coyotes in Collins' territory had been cut down by half and only the wisest were left.
BreedverbUS /briːd/
call forth
From this reading Breed saw one coyote in a trail trap and he forswore the following of cow trails.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading After once his scent was cold the coyotes had nothing to warn them of these sets, but trail trapping is largely chance and not productive of great results.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The number of coyotes in Collins' territory had been cut down by half and only the wisest were left.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading After once his scent was cold the coyotes had nothing to warn them of these sets, but trail trapping is largely chance and not productive of great results.
without doubt or question
From this reading Clearly marked cow trails crossed through every low saddle in the foothills and Collins studded these with traps.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading After once his scent was cold the coyotes had nothing to warn them of these sets, but trail trapping is largely chance and not productive of great results.
CollinsnounUS /ˈkɑːlɪnz/
English writer noted for early detective novels (1824-1889)
From this reading The number of coyotes in Collins' territory had been cut down by half and only the wisest were left.
cownounUS /kaʊ/
female of domestic cattle: "“moo-cow” is a child's term"
From this reading Clearly marked cow trails crossed through every low saddle in the foothills and Collins studded these with traps.
coyotenounUS /kaɪˈoʊti/
small wolf native to western North America
From this reading Breed saw one coyote in a trail trap and he forswore the following of cow trails.
coyotesnounUS /kaɪˈoʊtis/
plural of “coyote” — small wolf native to western North America
From this reading The number of coyotes in Collins' territory had been cut down by half and only the wisest were left.
placed crosswise
From this reading Clearly marked cow trails crossed through every low saddle in the foothills and Collins studded these with traps.
attractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness
From this reading As they grew more trap-wise the wolfer increased the cunning of his sets.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading The number of coyotes in Collins' territory had been cut down by half and only the wisest were left.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The number of coyotes in Collins' territory had been cut down by half and only the wisest were left.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Clearly marked cow trails crossed through every low saddle in the foothills and Collins studded these with traps.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading Breed saw one coyote in a trail trap and he forswore the following of cow trails.
foothillsnounUS /ˈfʊthɪlz/
plural of “foothill” — a relatively low hill on the lower slope of a mountain
From this reading Clearly marked cow trails crossed through every low saddle in the foothills and Collins studded these with traps.
forswore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breed saw one coyote in a trail trap and he forswore the following of cow trails.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading After once his scent was cold the coyotes had nothing to warn them of these sets, but trail trapping is largely chance and not productive of great results.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading As they grew more trap-wise the wolfer increased the cunning of his sets.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The number of coyotes in Collins' territory had been cut down by half and only the wisest were left.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading The number of coyotes in Collins' territory had been cut down by half and only the wisest were left.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Breed saw one coyote in a trail trap and he forswore the following of cow trails.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As they grew more trap-wise the wolfer increased the cunning of his sets.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The number of coyotes in Collins' territory had been cut down by half and only the wisest were left.
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading As they grew more trap-wise the wolfer increased the cunning of his sets.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading After once his scent was cold the coyotes had nothing to warn them of these sets, but trail trapping is largely chance and not productive of great results.
largelyadverbUS /ˈlɑːrdʒli/
in large part; mainly or chiefly
From this reading After once his scent was cold the coyotes had nothing to warn them of these sets, but trail trapping is largely chance and not productive of great results.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The number of coyotes in Collins' territory had been cut down by half and only the wisest were left.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Clearly marked cow trails crossed through every low saddle in the foothills and Collins studded these with traps.
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading Clearly marked cow trails crossed through every low saddle in the foothills and Collins studded these with traps.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading As they grew more trap-wise the wolfer increased the cunning of his sets.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading After once his scent was cold the coyotes had nothing to warn them of these sets, but trail trapping is largely chance and not productive of great results.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading After once his scent was cold the coyotes had nothing to warn them of these sets, but trail trapping is largely chance and not productive of great results.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading The number of coyotes in Collins' territory had been cut down by half and only the wisest were left.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The number of coyotes in Collins' territory had been cut down by half and only the wisest were left.
on one occasion
From this reading After once his scent was cold the coyotes had nothing to warn them of these sets, but trail trapping is largely chance and not productive of great results.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Breed saw one coyote in a trail trap and he forswore the following of cow trails.
and nothing more
From this reading The number of coyotes in Collins' territory had been cut down by half and only the wisest were left.
productiveadjectiveUS /prəˈdʌktɪv/
producing or capable of producing (especially abundantly)
From this reading After once his scent was cold the coyotes had nothing to warn them of these sets, but trail trapping is largely chance and not productive of great results.
resultsnounUS /rɪˈzʌlts/
plural of “result” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading After once his scent was cold the coyotes had nothing to warn them of these sets, but trail trapping is largely chance and not productive of great results.
put a saddle on
From this reading Clearly marked cow trails crossed through every low saddle in the foothills and Collins studded these with traps.
cut with a saw
From this reading Breed saw one coyote in a trail trap and he forswore the following of cow trails.
scentnounUS /sɛnt/
A distinctive smell or aroma.
From this reading After once his scent was cold the coyotes had nothing to warn them of these sets, but trail trapping is largely chance and not productive of great results.
setsnounUS /sets/
plural of “set” — a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used
From this reading As they grew more trap-wise the wolfer increased the cunning of his sets.
studdedadjectiveUS /ˈstʌdɪd/
dotted or adorned with or as with studs or nailheads; usually used in combination
From this reading Clearly marked cow trails crossed through every low saddle in the foothills and Collins studded these with traps.
territorynounUS /ˈterɪtɔːri/
a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
From this reading The number of coyotes in Collins' territory had been cut down by half and only the wisest were left.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The number of coyotes in Collins' territory had been cut down by half and only the wisest were left.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading After once his scent was cold the coyotes had nothing to warn them of these sets, but trail trapping is largely chance and not productive of great results.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Clearly marked cow trails crossed through every low saddle in the foothills and Collins studded these with traps.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As they grew more trap-wise the wolfer increased the cunning of his sets.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Clearly marked cow trails crossed through every low saddle in the foothills and Collins studded these with traps.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After once his scent was cold the coyotes had nothing to warn them of these sets, but trail trapping is largely chance and not productive of great results.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading After once his scent was cold the coyotes had nothing to warn them of these sets, but trail trapping is largely chance and not productive of great results.
trailsnounUS /treɪlz/
plural of “trail” — a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading Clearly marked cow trails crossed through every low saddle in the foothills and Collins studded these with traps.
trapnounUS /træp/
a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
From this reading Breed saw one coyote in a trail trap and he forswore the following of cow trails.
trap-wise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As they grew more trap-wise the wolfer increased the cunning of his sets.
trappingnounUS /ˈtræpɪŋ/
stable gear consisting of a decorated covering for a horse, especially (formerly) for a warhorse
From this reading After once his scent was cold the coyotes had nothing to warn them of these sets, but trail trapping is largely chance and not productive of great results.
trapsnounUS /træps/
plural of “trap” — a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
From this reading Clearly marked cow trails crossed through every low saddle in the foothills and Collins studded these with traps.
warnverbUS /wɔːrn/
notify of danger, potential harm, or risk
From this reading After once his scent was cold the coyotes had nothing to warn them of these sets, but trail trapping is largely chance and not productive of great results.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading After once his scent was cold the coyotes had nothing to warn them of these sets, but trail trapping is largely chance and not productive of great results.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The number of coyotes in Collins' territory had been cut down by half and only the wisest were left.
wisestadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪzəst/
superlative of “wise” — having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading The number of coyotes in Collins' territory had been cut down by half and only the wisest were left.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Clearly marked cow trails crossed through every low saddle in the foothills and Collins studded these with traps.
wolfer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As they grew more trap-wise the wolfer increased the cunning of his sets.
