used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "What is it?" asked a voice insistently.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Echo-like, startling in its suddenness, an inverted V opened in the white wall and in it, fully dressed, vigilant, appeared the figure of its owner.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Echo-like, startling in its suddenness, an inverted V opened in the white wall and in it, fully dressed, vigilant, appeared the figure of its owner.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "What is it?" asked a voice insistently.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "You're wanted at the ranch house."
aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soil
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
buttverbUS /bʌt/
lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "Wake up," he called laconically.
canvasnounUS /ˈkænvəs/
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading Echo-like, startling in its suddenness, an inverted V opened in the white wall and in it, fully dressed, vigilant, appeared the figure of its owner.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
Echo-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Echo-like, startling in its suddenness, an inverted V opened in the white wall and in it, fully dressed, vigilant, appeared the figure of its owner.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Echo-like, startling in its suddenness, an inverted V opened in the white wall and in it, fully dressed, vigilant, appeared the figure of its owner.
foremannounUS /ˈfɔːrmən/
a person who exercises control over workers
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading Echo-like, startling in its suddenness, an inverted V opened in the white wall and in it, fully dressed, vigilant, appeared the figure of its owner.
gauntadjectiveUS /ɡɔːnt/
very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
gripnounUS /ɡrɪp/
the act of grasping
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Wake up," he called laconically.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading "You're wanted at the ranch house."
HowardnounUS /ˈhaʊərd/
English actor of stage and screen (1893-1943)
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
insistentlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈsɪstəntli/
in an insistent manner
From this reading "What is it?" asked a voice insistently.
invertedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɜːrtɪd/
being in such a position that top and bottom are reversed
From this reading Echo-like, startling in its suddenness, an inverted V opened in the white wall and in it, fully dressed, vigilant, appeared the figure of its owner.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "What is it?" asked a voice insistently.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Echo-like, startling in its suddenness, an inverted V opened in the white wall and in it, fully dressed, vigilant, appeared the figure of its owner.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
laconicallyadverb
in a dry laconic manner
From this reading "Wake up," he called laconically.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Echo-like, startling in its suddenness, an inverted V opened in the white wall and in it, fully dressed, vigilant, appeared the figure of its owner.
(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading Echo-like, startling in its suddenness, an inverted V opened in the white wall and in it, fully dressed, vigilant, appeared the figure of its owner.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
precedesverbUS /prɪˈsiːdz/
third-person singular of “precede” — be earlier in time; go back further
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
quirtnoun
whip with a leather thong at the end
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
ranchnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
reinverbUS /reɪn/
control and direct with or as if by reins
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading Echo-like, startling in its suddenness, an inverted V opened in the white wall and in it, fully dressed, vigilant, appeared the figure of its owner.
suddennessnounUS /ˈsʌdənnəs/
the quality of happening with headlong haste or without warning
From this reading Echo-like, startling in its suddenness, an inverted V opened in the white wall and in it, fully dressed, vigilant, appeared the figure of its owner.
tappedadjectiveUS /tæpt/
in a condition for letting out liquid drawn out as by piercing or drawing a plug
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Wake up," he called laconically.
a unit of potential equal to the potential difference between two points on a conductor carrying a current of 1 ampere when the power dissipated between the two points is 1 watt
From this reading Echo-like, startling in its suddenness, an inverted V opened in the white wall and in it, fully dressed, vigilant, appeared the figure of its owner.
vigilantadjectiveUS /ˈvɪdʒələnt/
carefully observant or attentive; on the lookout for possible danger
From this reading Echo-like, startling in its suddenness, an inverted V opened in the white wall and in it, fully dressed, vigilant, appeared the figure of its owner.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "What is it?" asked a voice insistently.
be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading "Wake up," he called laconically.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Echo-like, startling in its suddenness, an inverted V opened in the white wall and in it, fully dressed, vigilant, appeared the figure of its owner.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading "You're wanted at the ranch house."
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What is it?" asked a voice insistently.
at the time that
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
a Caucasian
From this reading Echo-like, startling in its suddenness, an inverted V opened in the white wall and in it, fully dressed, vigilant, appeared the figure of its owner.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE The darkness that precedes morning had the prairie country in its grip when Howard, the gaunt foreman of the B.B. ranch, drew rein before the silent tent, and with the butt end of his quirt tapped on the heavy canvas.
You're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You're wanted at the ranch house."
