Chapter I · The Ace of Spades

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

From this reading The two men faced each other across the little table in the living-room of the Circle Spade ranch-house, in the light of a single oil lamp.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading The two men faced each other across the little table in the living-room of the Circle Spade ranch-house, in the light of a single oil lamp.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading His skin was almost as white as milk, his hair as black as jet, and he wore it long in front of his ears--a swinging curl of inky-black against his white cheek.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading His skin was almost as white as milk, his hair as black as jet, and he wore it long in front of his ears--a swinging curl of inky-black against his white cheek.

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

From this reading The younger of the two men was Jack McCoy, known as “Angel,” while the other was Rance McCoy, his father, and owner of the Circle Spade ranch.

spiritual being attendant upon God

From this reading The younger of the two men was Jack McCoy, known as “Angel,” while the other was Rance McCoy, his father, and owner of the Circle Spade ranch.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The younger of the two men was Jack McCoy, known as “Angel,” while the other was Rance McCoy, his father, and owner of the Circle Spade ranch.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading His skin was almost as white as milk, his hair as black as jet, and he wore it long in front of his ears--a swinging curl of inky-black against his white cheek.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading His eyes were brown, shaded by sharpcut brows.

plural of “brow” — the part of the face above the eyes

From this reading His eyes were brown, shaded by sharpcut brows.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading His eyes were brown, shaded by sharpcut brows.

engraving or carving in low relief on a stone (as in a brooch or ring)

From this reading Angel McCoy was rather tall, well muscled, with features as clean-cut as a cameo.

either side of the face below the eyes

From this reading His skin was almost as white as milk, his hair as black as jet, and he wore it long in front of his ears--a swinging curl of inky-black against his white cheek.

ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point

From this reading The two men faced each other across the little table in the living-room of the Circle Spade ranch-house, in the light of a single oil lamp.

neat and smart in appearance

From this reading Angel McCoy was rather tall, well muscled, with features as clean-cut as a cameo.

form a curl, curve, or kink

From this reading His skin was almost as white as milk, his hair as black as jet, and he wore it long in front of his ears--a swinging curl of inky-black against his white cheek.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading The two men faced each other across the little table in the living-room of the Circle Spade ranch-house, in the light of a single oil lamp.

plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading His skin was almost as white as milk, his hair as black as jet, and he wore it long in front of his ears--a swinging curl of inky-black against his white cheek.

opinion or judgment

From this reading His eyes were brown, shaded by sharpcut brows.

having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination

From this reading The two men faced each other across the little table in the living-room of the Circle Spade ranch-house, in the light of a single oil lamp.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading The younger of the two men was Jack McCoy, known as “Angel,” while the other was Rance McCoy, his father, and owner of the Circle Spade ranch.

plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something

From this reading Angel McCoy was rather tall, well muscled, with features as clean-cut as a cameo.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading His skin was almost as white as milk, his hair as black as jet, and he wore it long in front of his ears--a swinging curl of inky-black against his white cheek.

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading His skin was almost as white as milk, his hair as black as jet, and he wore it long in front of his ears--a swinging curl of inky-black against his white cheek.

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

From this reading His skin was almost as white as milk, his hair as black as jet, and he wore it long in front of his ears--a swinging curl of inky-black against his white cheek.

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

From this reading The younger of the two men was Jack McCoy, known as “Angel,” while the other was Rance McCoy, his father, and owner of the Circle Spade ranch.

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

From this reading The two men faced each other across the little table in the living-room of the Circle Spade ranch-house, in the light of a single oil lamp.

of the color of black ink

From this reading His skin was almost as white as milk, his hair as black as jet, and he wore it long in front of his ears--a swinging curl of inky-black against his white cheek.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading His skin was almost as white as milk, his hair as black as jet, and he wore it long in front of his ears--a swinging curl of inky-black against his white cheek.

a small worthless amount

From this reading The younger of the two men was Jack McCoy, known as “Angel,” while the other was Rance McCoy, his father, and owner of the Circle Spade ranch.

an airplane powered by one or more jet engines

From this reading His skin was almost as white as milk, his hair as black as jet, and he wore it long in front of his ears--a swinging curl of inky-black against his white cheek.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading The younger of the two men was Jack McCoy, known as “Angel,” while the other was Rance McCoy, his father, and owner of the Circle Spade ranch.

an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading The two men faced each other across the little table in the living-room of the Circle Spade ranch-house, in the light of a single oil lamp.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading The two men faced each other across the little table in the living-room of the Circle Spade ranch-house, in the light of a single oil lamp.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The two men faced each other across the little table in the living-room of the Circle Spade ranch-house, in the light of a single oil lamp.

a room in a private house or establishment where people can sit and talk and relax

From this reading The two men faced each other across the little table in the living-room of the Circle Spade ranch-house, in the light of a single oil lamp.

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 His skin was almost as white as milk, his hair as black as jet, and he wore it long in front of his ears--a swinging curl of inky-black against his white cheek.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The younger of the two men was Jack McCoy, known as “Angel,” while the other was Rance McCoy, his father, and owner of the Circle Spade ranch.

the force of workers available

From this reading The two men faced each other across the little table in the living-room of the Circle Spade ranch-house, in the light of a single oil lamp.

a white nutritious liquid secreted by mammals and used as food by human beings

From this reading His skin was almost as white as milk, his hair as black as jet, and he wore it long in front of his ears--a swinging curl of inky-black against his white cheek.

past form of “muscle” — make one's way by force

From this reading Angel McCoy was rather tall, well muscled, with features as clean-cut as a cameo.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The two men faced each other across the little table in the living-room of the Circle Spade ranch-house, in the light of a single oil lamp.

A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.

From this reading The two men faced each other across the little table in the living-room of the Circle Spade ranch-house, in the light of a single oil lamp.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading The two men faced each other across the little table in the living-room of the Circle Spade ranch-house, in the light of a single oil lamp.

(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business

From this reading The younger of the two men was Jack McCoy, known as “Angel,” while the other was Rance McCoy, his father, and owner of the Circle Spade ranch.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The younger of the two men was Jack McCoy, known as “Angel,” while the other was Rance McCoy, his father, and owner of the Circle Spade ranch.

farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)

From this reading The younger of the two men was Jack McCoy, known as “Angel,” while the other was Rance McCoy, his father, and owner of the Circle Spade ranch.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The two men faced each other across the little table in the living-room of the Circle Spade ranch-house, in the light of a single oil lamp.

on the contrary

From this reading Angel McCoy was rather tall, well muscled, with features as clean-cut as a cameo.

protected from heat and light with shade or shadow

From this reading His eyes were brown, shaded by sharpcut brows.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading His eyes were brown, shaded by sharpcut brows.

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading The two men faced each other across the little table in the living-room of the Circle Spade ranch-house, in the light of a single oil lamp.

a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch

From this reading His skin was almost as white as milk, his hair as black as jet, and he wore it long in front of his ears--a swinging curl of inky-black against his white cheek.

a playing card in the major suit that has one or more black figures on it

From this reading The two men faced each other across the little table in the living-room of the Circle Spade ranch-house, in the light of a single oil lamp.

changing location by moving back and forth

From this reading His skin was almost as white as milk, his hair as black as jet, and he wore it long in front of his ears--a swinging curl of inky-black against his white cheek.

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading The two men faced each other across the little table in the living-room of the Circle Spade ranch-house, in the light of a single oil lamp.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading Angel McCoy was rather tall, well muscled, with features as clean-cut as a cameo.

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

From this reading The two men faced each other across the little table in the living-room of the Circle Spade ranch-house, in the light of a single oil lamp.

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

From this reading The two men faced each other across the little table in the living-room of the Circle Spade ranch-house, in the light of a single oil lamp.

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

From this reading The younger of the two men was Jack McCoy, known as “Angel,” while the other was Rance McCoy, his father, and owner of the Circle Spade ranch.

(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 Angel McCoy was rather tall, well muscled, with features as clean-cut as a cameo.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading His eyes were brown, shaded by sharpcut brows.

during the time that

From this reading The younger of the two men was Jack McCoy, known as “Angel,” while the other was Rance McCoy, his father, and owner of the Circle Spade ranch.

a Caucasian

From this reading His skin was almost as white as milk, his hair as black as jet, and he wore it long in front of his ears--a swinging curl of inky-black against his white cheek.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Angel McCoy was rather tall, well muscled, with features as clean-cut as a cameo.

inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in

From this reading His skin was almost as white as milk, his hair as black as jet, and he wore it long in front of his ears--a swinging curl of inky-black against his white cheek.

used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father

From this reading The younger of the two men was Jack McCoy, known as “Angel,” while the other was Rance McCoy, his father, and owner of the Circle Spade ranch.