used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Listening to the whippoorwills?” he asked teasingly.
Bab
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
bachelornounUS /ˈbætʃələr/
a man who has never been married
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
someone who is a detective
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
grinnedverbUS /ɡrɪnd/
inflected form of “grin” — to draw back the lips and reveal the teeth, in a smile, grimace, or snarl
From this reading He grinned when he saw the two sitting there, silent.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
halfwayadjectiveUS /ˈhæfˈweɪ/
equally distant from the extremes
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He grinned when he saw the two sitting there, silent.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading “Listening to the whippoorwills?” he asked teasingly.
lonesomeadjectiveUS /ˈloʊnsəm/
being the only one; single and isolated from others
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
McBirney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
mulenounUS /mjuːl/
hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse; usually sterile
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
Nope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Nope,” said Pa McBirney shortly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
PanounUS /pɑː/
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Nope,” said Pa McBirney shortly.
cut with a saw
From this reading He grinned when he saw the two sitting there, silent.
for a short time
From this reading “Nope,” said Pa McBirney shortly.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading He grinned when he saw the two sitting there, silent.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
sundownnounUS /ˈsʌndaʊn/
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading “Had your supper?”
teasinglyadverb
in a playfully teasing manner
From this reading “Listening to the whippoorwills?” he asked teasingly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He grinned when he saw the two sitting there, silent.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Listening to the whippoorwills?” he asked teasingly.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading He grinned when he saw the two sitting there, silent.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
at the time that
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
whippoorwillsnounUS /ˈwɪpərwɪlz/
plural of “whippoorwill” — American nocturnal goatsucker with grey-and-white plumage
From this reading “Listening to the whippoorwills?” he asked teasingly.
which person or people
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading It was about sundown and Pa McBirney and Jim were sitting on the porch of their cabin, feeling lonesome and deserted, when Dick Bab, a bachelor who had a house about halfway between the McBirney house and the foot of the mountain, came driving up on his yellow mule.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Had your supper?”
