used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
in addition
From this reading He seemed to have a way with mules; he also had a sheath knife in plain view.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soil
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
bossnounUS /bɑːs/
a person who exercises control over workers
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
a steep high face of rock
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
contractverbUS /ˈkɑːntrækt/
enter into a contractual arrangement
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
demonstratedadjectiveUS /ˈdemənstreɪtɪd/
having been demonstrated or verified beyond doubt
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
driftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/
aimless wandering from place to place
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
etc
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
freighting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
be in charge of, act on, or dispose of
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
hiredadjectiveUS /ˈhaɪərd/
having services engaged for a fee
From this reading “You’re hired,” said McCarthy.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
hitchverbUS /hɪtʃ/
to hook or entangle
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading He seemed to have a way with mules; he also had a sheath knife in plain view.
McCarthynounUS /məˈkɑːrθi/
United States satirical novelist and literary critic (1912-1989)
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
the force of workers available
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
MorgannounUS /ˈmɔːrɡən/
United States anthropologist who studied the Seneca (1818-1881)
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
mulenounUS /mjuːl/
hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse; usually sterile
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
mulesnounUS /mjuːlz/
plural of “mule” — hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse; usually sterile
From this reading He seemed to have a way with mules; he also had a sheath knife in plain view.
MuttnounUS /mʌt/
an inferior dog or one of mixed breed
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
needin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
nowherenounUS /ˈnoʊwer/
an insignificant place
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
orenounUS /ɔːr/
a mineral that contains metal that is valuable enough to be mined
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
outfitnounUS /ˈaʊtfɪt/
any cohesive unit such as a military company
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading He seemed to have a way with mules; he also had a sheath knife in plain view.
premiumnounUS /ˈpriːmiəm/
payment for insurance
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
QnounUS /kjuː/
the 17th letter of the Roman alphabet
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “You’re hired,” said McCarthy.
scalpin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He seemed to have a way with mules; he also had a sheath knife in plain view.
sheathnounUS /ʃiːθ/
a protective covering (as for a knife or sword)
From this reading He seemed to have a way with mules; he also had a sheath knife in plain view.
six-mule
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
skinners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
male cat
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading He seemed to have a way with mules; he also had a sheath knife in plain view.
any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor
From this reading Tom, drifting in from nowhere, had fully demonstrated to McCarthy, the wagon boss, that he could handle a six-mule hitch.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He seemed to have a way with mules; he also had a sheath knife in plain view.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
what's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
in the company of; together with
From this reading Author of “The Mutt,” etc. Good mule skinners were at a premium with the Q B freighting outfit, or Tom Morgan couldn’t have held his job ten minutes.
ye're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m needin’ good men to handle that Red Cliff ore contract--but what’s the idea o’ that scalpin’ knife ye’re carrying there?”
You're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You’re hired,” said McCarthy.
