used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The ranch was a scene of intense excitement when, after an exploration of the neighborhood, the child was not found.
matters of personal concern
From this reading This being the state of affairs, great was the alarm of all one day as it became evident that Tilderee was missing.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The ranch was a scene of intense excitement when, after an exploration of the neighborhood, the child was not found.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading This being the state of affairs, great was the alarm of all one day as it became evident that Tilderee was missing.
(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 This being the state of affairs, great was the alarm of all one day as it became evident that Tilderee was missing.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The ranch was a scene of intense excitement when, after an exploration of the neighborhood, the child was not found.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The settlers for miles around joined the party which set out to continue the search.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This being the state of affairs, great was the alarm of all one day as it became evident that Tilderee was missing.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading This being the state of affairs, great was the alarm of all one day as it became evident that Tilderee was missing.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading This being the state of affairs, great was the alarm of all one day as it became evident that Tilderee was missing.
a young person of either sex
From this reading The ranch was a scene of intense excitement when, after an exploration of the neighborhood, the child was not found.
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading The settlers for miles around joined the party which set out to continue the search.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading This being the state of affairs, great was the alarm of all one day as it became evident that Tilderee was missing.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading This being the state of affairs, great was the alarm of all one day as it became evident that Tilderee was missing.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading The ranch was a scene of intense excitement when, after an exploration of the neighborhood, the child was not found.
explorationnounUS /ˌeksplərˈeɪʃən/
to travel for the purpose of discovery
From this reading The ranch was a scene of intense excitement when, after an exploration of the neighborhood, the child was not found.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The news spread like a prairie fire.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The settlers for miles around joined the party which set out to continue the search.
set up or found
From this reading The ranch was a scene of intense excitement when, after an exploration of the neighborhood, the child was not found.
franticadjectiveUS /ˈfræntɪk/
excessively agitated; distraught with fear or other violent emotion
From this reading The poor mother was frantic.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading This being the state of affairs, great was the alarm of all one day as it became evident that Tilderee was missing.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading The ranch was a scene of intense excitement when, after an exploration of the neighborhood, the child was not found.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This being the state of affairs, great was the alarm of all one day as it became evident that Tilderee was missing.
of or relating to two people who are married to each other
From this reading The settlers for miles around joined the party which set out to continue the search.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The news spread like a prairie fire.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading The settlers for miles around joined the party which set out to continue the search.
missingadjectiveUS /ˈmɪsɪŋ/
not able to be found
From this reading This being the state of affairs, great was the alarm of all one day as it became evident that Tilderee was missing.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading The poor mother was frantic.
neighborhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading The ranch was a scene of intense excitement when, after an exploration of the neighborhood, the child was not found.
information about recent and important events
From this reading The news spread like a prairie fire.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The ranch was a scene of intense excitement when, after an exploration of the neighborhood, the child was not found.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This being the state of affairs, great was the alarm of all one day as it became evident that Tilderee was missing.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading This being the state of affairs, great was the alarm of all one day as it became evident that Tilderee was missing.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The settlers for miles around joined the party which set out to continue the search.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading The settlers for miles around joined the party which set out to continue the search.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading The poor mother was frantic.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading The news spread like a prairie fire.
ranchnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading The ranch was a scene of intense excitement when, after an exploration of the neighborhood, the child was not found.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading The ranch was a scene of intense excitement when, after an exploration of the neighborhood, the child was not found.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading The settlers for miles around joined the party which set out to continue the search.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The settlers for miles around joined the party which set out to continue the search.
settlersnounUS /ˈsetlərz/
plural of “settler” — a person who settles in a new colony or moves into new country
From this reading The settlers for miles around joined the party which set out to continue the search.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading The news spread like a prairie fire.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading This being the state of affairs, great was the alarm of all one day as it became evident that Tilderee was missing.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This being the state of affairs, great was the alarm of all one day as it became evident that Tilderee was missing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This being the state of affairs, great was the alarm of all one day as it became evident that Tilderee was missing.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This being the state of affairs, great was the alarm of all one day as it became evident that Tilderee was missing.
Tilderee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This being the state of affairs, great was the alarm of all one day as it became evident that Tilderee was missing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The settlers for miles around joined the party which set out to continue the search.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This being the state of affairs, great was the alarm of all one day as it became evident that Tilderee was missing.
at the time that
From this reading The ranch was a scene of intense excitement when, after an exploration of the neighborhood, the child was not found.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The settlers for miles around joined the party which set out to continue the search.
