used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading It would be absurd to claim that his nerves were perfectly calm and his heart entirely unhurried as he crept across the mesa and dropped into the wooded canyon just above the pasture fence.
inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
From this reading It would be absurd to claim that his nerves were perfectly calm and his heart entirely unhurried as he crept across the mesa and dropped into the wooded canyon just above the pasture fence.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading It would be absurd to claim that his nerves were perfectly calm and his heart entirely unhurried as he crept across the mesa and dropped into the wooded canyon just above the pasture fence.
(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 Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Although sustained by his authority as a Federal officer, he was perfectly well aware that it was possible for him to meet with trouble when the gang found out what he had done.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading As he had reason to suspect that one, at least, of the riflemen of the morning belonged to the Blackbird outfit, he decided to avoid that ranch altogether.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he had reason to suspect that one, at least, of the riflemen of the morning belonged to the Blackbird outfit, he decided to avoid that ranch altogether.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Who were you taking to the train?" they asked.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
the power or right to give orders or make decisions
From this reading Although sustained by his authority as a Federal officer, he was perfectly well aware that it was possible for him to meet with trouble when the gang found out what he had done.
stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading As he had reason to suspect that one, at least, of the riflemen of the morning belonged to the Blackbird outfit, he decided to avoid that ranch altogether.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading Although sustained by his authority as a Federal officer, he was perfectly well aware that it was possible for him to meet with trouble when the gang found out what he had done.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It would be absurd to claim that his nerves were perfectly calm and his heart entirely unhurried as he crept across the mesa and dropped into the wooded canyon just above the pasture fence.
past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading As he had reason to suspect that one, at least, of the riflemen of the morning belonged to the Blackbird outfit, he decided to avoid that ranch altogether.
BlackbirdnounUS /ˈblækbərd/
any bird of the family Icteridae whose male is black or predominantly black
From this reading As he had reason to suspect that one, at least, of the riflemen of the morning belonged to the Blackbird outfit, he decided to avoid that ranch altogether.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Although sustained by his authority as a Federal officer, he was perfectly well aware that it was possible for him to meet with trouble when the gang found out what he had done.
make calm or still
From this reading It would be absurd to claim that his nerves were perfectly calm and his heart entirely unhurried as he crept across the mesa and dropped into the wooded canyon just above the pasture fence.
canyonnounUS /ˈkænjən/
a ravine formed by a river in an area with little rainfall
From this reading It would be absurd to claim that his nerves were perfectly calm and his heart entirely unhurried as he crept across the mesa and dropped into the wooded canyon just above the pasture fence.
an assertion of a right (as to money or property)
From this reading It would be absurd to claim that his nerves were perfectly calm and his heart entirely unhurried as he crept across the mesa and dropped into the wooded canyon just above the pasture fence.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading It would be absurd to claim that his nerves were perfectly calm and his heart entirely unhurried as he crept across the mesa and dropped into the wooded canyon just above the pasture fence.
curtadjectiveUS /kɜːrt/
marked by rude or peremptory shortness
From this reading Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
recognizable; marked
From this reading As he had reason to suspect that one, at least, of the riflemen of the morning belonged to the Blackbird outfit, he decided to avoid that ranch altogether.
defensenounUS /dɪˈfens/
(military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies
From this reading Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
command with authority
From this reading Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Although sustained by his authority as a Federal officer, he was perfectly well aware that it was possible for him to meet with trouble when the gang found out what he had done.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading It would be absurd to claim that his nerves were perfectly calm and his heart entirely unhurried as he crept across the mesa and dropped into the wooded canyon just above the pasture fence.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading It would be absurd to claim that his nerves were perfectly calm and his heart entirely unhurried as he crept across the mesa and dropped into the wooded canyon just above the pasture fence.
evasionnounUS /ɪˈveɪʒən/
a statement that is not literally false but that cleverly avoids an unpleasant truth
From this reading Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
FederaladjectiveUS /ˈfedərəl/
national; especially in reference to the government of the United States as distinct from that of its member units
From this reading Although sustained by his authority as a Federal officer, he was perfectly well aware that it was possible for him to meet with trouble when the gang found out what he had done.
enclose with a fence
From this reading It would be absurd to claim that his nerves were perfectly calm and his heart entirely unhurried as he crept across the mesa and dropped into the wooded canyon just above the pasture fence.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Although sustained by his authority as a Federal officer, he was perfectly well aware that it was possible for him to meet with trouble when the gang found out what he had done.
set up or found
From this reading Although sustained by his authority as a Federal officer, he was perfectly well aware that it was possible for him to meet with trouble when the gang found out what he had done.
gangnounUS /ɡæŋ/
an association of criminals
From this reading Although sustained by his authority as a Federal officer, he was perfectly well aware that it was possible for him to meet with trouble when the gang found out what he had done.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As he had reason to suspect that one, at least, of the riflemen of the morning belonged to the Blackbird outfit, he decided to avoid that ranch altogether.
Hanscom's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading It would be absurd to claim that his nerves were perfectly calm and his heart entirely unhurried as he crept across the mesa and dropped into the wooded canyon just above the pasture fence.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Although sustained by his authority as a Federal officer, he was perfectly well aware that it was possible for him to meet with trouble when the gang found out what he had done.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It would be absurd to claim that his nerves were perfectly calm and his heart entirely unhurried as he crept across the mesa and dropped into the wooded canyon just above the pasture fence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It would be absurd to claim that his nerves were perfectly calm and his heart entirely unhurried as he crept across the mesa and dropped into the wooded canyon just above the pasture fence.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It would be absurd to claim that his nerves were perfectly calm and his heart entirely unhurried as he crept across the mesa and dropped into the wooded canyon just above the pasture fence.
jocularadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɑːkjələr/
characterized by jokes and good humor
From this reading Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
and nothing more
From this reading It would be absurd to claim that his nerves were perfectly calm and his heart entirely unhurried as he crept across the mesa and dropped into the wooded canyon just above the pasture fence.
immediately past
From this reading Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading As he had reason to suspect that one, at least, of the riflemen of the morning belonged to the Blackbird outfit, he decided to avoid that ranch altogether.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
come together
From this reading Although sustained by his authority as a Federal officer, he was perfectly well aware that it was possible for him to meet with trouble when the gang found out what he had done.
mesanounUS /ˈmeɪsə/
flat tableland with steep edges
From this reading It would be absurd to claim that his nerves were perfectly calm and his heart entirely unhurried as he crept across the mesa and dropped into the wooded canyon just above the pasture fence.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading As he had reason to suspect that one, at least, of the riflemen of the morning belonged to the Blackbird outfit, he decided to avoid that ranch altogether.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading It would be absurd to claim that his nerves were perfectly calm and his heart entirely unhurried as he crept across the mesa and dropped into the wooded canyon just above the pasture fence.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading Although sustained by his authority as a Federal officer, he was perfectly well aware that it was possible for him to meet with trouble when the gang found out what he had done.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading As he had reason to suspect that one, at least, of the riflemen of the morning belonged to the Blackbird outfit, he decided to avoid that ranch altogether.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Although sustained by his authority as a Federal officer, he was perfectly well aware that it was possible for him to meet with trouble when the gang found out what he had done.
outfitnounUS /ˈaʊtfɪt/
any cohesive unit such as a military company
From this reading As he had reason to suspect that one, at least, of the riflemen of the morning belonged to the Blackbird outfit, he decided to avoid that ranch altogether.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
pasturenounUS /ˈpæstʃər/
a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock
From this reading It would be absurd to claim that his nerves were perfectly calm and his heart entirely unhurried as he crept across the mesa and dropped into the wooded canyon just above the pasture fence.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading It would be absurd to claim that his nerves were perfectly calm and his heart entirely unhurried as he crept across the mesa and dropped into the wooded canyon just above the pasture fence.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading Although sustained by his authority as a Federal officer, he was perfectly well aware that it was possible for him to meet with trouble when the gang found out what he had done.
ranchnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading As he had reason to suspect that one, at least, of the riflemen of the morning belonged to the Blackbird outfit, he decided to avoid that ranch altogether.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading As he had reason to suspect that one, at least, of the riflemen of the morning belonged to the Blackbird outfit, he decided to avoid that ranch altogether.
resortnounUS /rɪˈzɔːrt/
a hotel located in a resort area
From this reading Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
riflemen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he had reason to suspect that one, at least, of the riflemen of the morning belonged to the Blackbird outfit, he decided to avoid that ranch altogether.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
speciesnounUS /ˈspiːʃiz/
(biology) taxonomic group whose members can interbreed
From this reading Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
imagine to be the case or true or probable
From this reading As he had reason to suspect that one, at least, of the riflemen of the morning belonged to the Blackbird outfit, he decided to avoid that ranch altogether.
sustainedadjectiveUS /səˈsteɪnd/
maintained at length without interruption or weakening
From this reading Although sustained by his authority as a Federal officer, he was perfectly well aware that it was possible for him to meet with trouble when the gang found out what he had done.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading "Who were you taking to the train?" they asked.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As he had reason to suspect that one, at least, of the riflemen of the morning belonged to the Blackbird outfit, he decided to avoid that ranch altogether.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Who were you taking to the train?" they asked.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Who were you taking to the train?" they asked.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Who were you taking to the train?" they asked.
create by training and teaching
From this reading "Who were you taking to the train?" they asked.
a source of difficulty
From this reading Although sustained by his authority as a Federal officer, he was perfectly well aware that it was possible for him to meet with trouble when the gang found out what he had done.
unhurriedadjectiveUS /ənˈhɜːrid/
relaxed and leisurely; without hurry or haste
From this reading It would be absurd to claim that his nerves were perfectly calm and his heart entirely unhurried as he crept across the mesa and dropped into the wooded canyon just above the pasture fence.
acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity
From this reading Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
(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 Although sustained by his authority as a Federal officer, he was perfectly well aware that it was possible for him to meet with trouble when the gang found out what he had done.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Who were you taking to the train?" they asked.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Although sustained by his authority as a Federal officer, he was perfectly well aware that it was possible for him to meet with trouble when the gang found out what he had done.
at the time that
From this reading Although sustained by his authority as a Federal officer, he was perfectly well aware that it was possible for him to meet with trouble when the gang found out what he had done.
which person or people
From this reading "Who were you taking to the train?" they asked.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Although sustained by his authority as a Federal officer, he was perfectly well aware that it was possible for him to meet with trouble when the gang found out what he had done.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Hanscom's defense was silence and a species of jocular, curt evasion, and he succeeded at last in getting past them all without resort to direct and violent lying.
woodedadjectiveUS /ˈwʊdɪd/
covered with growing trees and bushes etc
From this reading It would be absurd to claim that his nerves were perfectly calm and his heart entirely unhurried as he crept across the mesa and dropped into the wooded canyon just above the pasture fence.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would be absurd to claim that his nerves were perfectly calm and his heart entirely unhurried as he crept across the mesa and dropped into the wooded canyon just above the pasture fence.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Who were you taking to the train?" they asked.
