used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The buyers and sellers, too, many of them, looked not much better off than the poor beasts they were bargaining about.
(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 Some of them looked as if poverty and hard times had hardened them all over; but there were others that I would have willingly used the last of my strength in serving; poor and shabby, but kind and humane, with voices that I could trust.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Some of them looked as if poverty and hard times had hardened them all over; but there were others that I would have willingly used the last of my strength in serving; poor and shabby, but kind and humane, with voices that I could trust.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
bargainingnounUS /ˈbɑːrɡɪnɪŋ/
the negotiation of the terms of a transaction or agreement
From this reading The buyers and sellers, too, many of them, looked not much better off than the poor beasts they were bargaining about.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading There were poor men trying to sell a worn-out beast for two or three pounds, rather than have the greater loss of killing him.
plural of “beast” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading The buyers and sellers, too, many of them, looked not much better off than the poor beasts they were bargaining about.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading The buyers and sellers, too, many of them, looked not much better off than the poor beasts they were bargaining about.
broken-winded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Some of them looked as if poverty and hard times had hardened them all over; but there were others that I would have willingly used the last of my strength in serving; poor and shabby, but kind and humane, with voices that I could trust.
buyersnounUS /ˈbaɪərz/
plural of “buyer” — a person who buys
From this reading The buyers and sellers, too, many of them, looked not much better off than the poor beasts they were bargaining about.
cartnounUS /kɑːrt/
a heavy open wagon usually having two wheels and drawn by an animal
From this reading There were poor old men, trying to get a horse or pony for a few pounds, that might drag about some little wood or coal cart.
coalnounUS /koʊl/
fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading There were poor old men, trying to get a horse or pony for a few pounds, that might drag about some little wood or coal cart.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Some of them looked as if poverty and hard times had hardened them all over; but there were others that I would have willingly used the last of my strength in serving; poor and shabby, but kind and humane, with voices that I could trust.
dragverbUS /dræɡ/
pull, as against a resistance
From this reading There were poor old men, trying to get a horse or pony for a few pounds, that might drag about some little wood or coal cart.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading There were poor old men, trying to get a horse or pony for a few pounds, that might drag about some little wood or coal cart.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There were poor old men, trying to get a horse or pony for a few pounds, that might drag about some little wood or coal cart.
set up or found
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading There were poor old men, trying to get a horse or pony for a few pounds, that might drag about some little wood or coal cart.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading There were poor men trying to sell a worn-out beast for two or three pounds, rather than have the greater loss of killing him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Some of them looked as if poverty and hard times had hardened them all over; but there were others that I would have willingly used the last of my strength in serving; poor and shabby, but kind and humane, with voices that I could trust.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Some of them looked as if poverty and hard times had hardened them all over; but there were others that I would have willingly used the last of my strength in serving; poor and shabby, but kind and humane, with voices that I could trust.
hardenedadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdənd/
used of persons; emotionally hardened
From this reading Some of them looked as if poverty and hard times had hardened them all over; but there were others that I would have willingly used the last of my strength in serving; poor and shabby, but kind and humane, with voices that I could trust.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There were poor men trying to sell a worn-out beast for two or three pounds, rather than have the greater loss of killing him.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading There were poor old men, trying to get a horse or pony for a few pounds, that might drag about some little wood or coal cart.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
humaneadjectiveUS /hjuːˈmeɪn/
pertaining to or concerned with the humanities
From this reading Some of them looked as if poverty and hard times had hardened them all over; but there were others that I would have willingly used the last of my strength in serving; poor and shabby, but kind and humane, with voices that I could trust.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Some of them looked as if poverty and hard times had hardened them all over; but there were others that I would have willingly used the last of my strength in serving; poor and shabby, but kind and humane, with voices that I could trust.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
killingnounUS /ˈkɪlɪŋ/
an event that causes someone to die
From this reading There were poor men trying to sell a worn-out beast for two or three pounds, rather than have the greater loss of killing him.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading Some of them looked as if poverty and hard times had hardened them all over; but there were others that I would have willingly used the last of my strength in serving; poor and shabby, but kind and humane, with voices that I could trust.
lamenounUS /leɪm/
someone who doesn't understand what is going on
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
immediately past
From this reading Some of them looked as if poverty and hard times had hardened them all over; but there were others that I would have willingly used the last of my strength in serving; poor and shabby, but kind and humane, with voices that I could trust.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There were poor old men, trying to get a horse or pony for a few pounds, that might drag about some little wood or coal cart.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The buyers and sellers, too, many of them, looked not much better off than the poor beasts they were bargaining about.
something that is lost
From this reading There were poor men trying to sell a worn-out beast for two or three pounds, rather than have the greater loss of killing him.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The buyers and sellers, too, many of them, looked not much better off than the poor beasts they were bargaining about.
the force of workers available
From this reading There were poor old men, trying to get a horse or pony for a few pounds, that might drag about some little wood or coal cart.
mercifuladjectiveUS /ˈmɜːrsɪfəl/
showing or giving mercy
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading There were poor old men, trying to get a horse or pony for a few pounds, that might drag about some little wood or coal cart.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The buyers and sellers, too, many of them, looked not much better off than the poor beasts they were bargaining about.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Some of them looked as if poverty and hard times had hardened them all over; but there were others that I would have willingly used the last of my strength in serving; poor and shabby, but kind and humane, with voices that I could trust.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The buyers and sellers, too, many of them, looked not much better off than the poor beasts they were bargaining about.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The buyers and sellers, too, many of them, looked not much better off than the poor beasts they were bargaining about.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There were poor old men, trying to get a horse or pony for a few pounds, that might drag about some little wood or coal cart.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of them looked as if poverty and hard times had hardened them all over; but there were others that I would have willingly used the last of my strength in serving; poor and shabby, but kind and humane, with voices that I could trust.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Some of them looked as if poverty and hard times had hardened them all over; but there were others that I would have willingly used the last of my strength in serving; poor and shabby, but kind and humane, with voices that I could trust.
ponynounUS /ˈpoʊniː/
a range horse of the western United States
From this reading There were poor old men, trying to get a horse or pony for a few pounds, that might drag about some little wood or coal cart.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading The buyers and sellers, too, many of them, looked not much better off than the poor beasts they were bargaining about.
plural of “pound” — 16 ounces avoirdupois
From this reading There were poor old men, trying to get a horse or pony for a few pounds, that might drag about some little wood or coal cart.
the state of having little or no money and few or no material possessions
From this reading Some of them looked as if poverty and hard times had hardened them all over; but there were others that I would have willingly used the last of my strength in serving; poor and shabby, but kind and humane, with voices that I could trust.
on the contrary
From this reading There were poor men trying to sell a worn-out beast for two or three pounds, rather than have the greater loss of killing him.
salenounUS /seɪl/
a particular instance of selling
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent
From this reading There were poor men trying to sell a worn-out beast for two or three pounds, rather than have the greater loss of killing him.
sellersnounUS /ˈselərz/
English comic actor (1925-1980)
From this reading The buyers and sellers, too, many of them, looked not much better off than the poor beasts they were bargaining about.
servingnounUS /ˈsɜːrvɪŋ/
an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal
From this reading Some of them looked as if poverty and hard times had hardened them all over; but there were others that I would have willingly used the last of my strength in serving; poor and shabby, but kind and humane, with voices that I could trust.
shabbyadjectiveUS /ˈʃæbi/
showing signs of wear and tear
From this reading Some of them looked as if poverty and hard times had hardened them all over; but there were others that I would have willingly used the last of my strength in serving; poor and shabby, but kind and humane, with voices that I could trust.
hit with a missile from a weapon
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading Some of them looked as if poverty and hard times had hardened them all over; but there were others that I would have willingly used the last of my strength in serving; poor and shabby, but kind and humane, with voices that I could trust.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The buyers and sellers, too, many of them, looked not much better off than the poor beasts they were bargaining about.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The buyers and sellers, too, many of them, looked not much better off than the poor beasts they were bargaining about.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The buyers and sellers, too, many of them, looked not much better off than the poor beasts they were bargaining about.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were poor old men, trying to get a horse or pony for a few pounds, that might drag about some little wood or coal cart.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The buyers and sellers, too, many of them, looked not much better off than the poor beasts they were bargaining about.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading There were poor men trying to sell a worn-out beast for two or three pounds, rather than have the greater loss of killing him.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Some of them looked as if poverty and hard times had hardened them all over; but there were others that I would have willingly used the last of my strength in serving; poor and shabby, but kind and humane, with voices that I could trust.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The buyers and sellers, too, many of them, looked not much better off than the poor beasts they were bargaining about.
something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)
From this reading Some of them looked as if poverty and hard times had hardened them all over; but there were others that I would have willingly used the last of my strength in serving; poor and shabby, but kind and humane, with voices that I could trust.
hard to endure
From this reading There were poor old men, trying to get a horse or pony for a few pounds, that might drag about some little wood or coal cart.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There were poor men trying to sell a worn-out beast for two or three pounds, rather than have the greater loss of killing him.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading Some of them looked as if poverty and hard times had hardened them all over; but there were others that I would have willingly used the last of my strength in serving; poor and shabby, but kind and humane, with voices that I could trust.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Some of them looked as if poverty and hard times had hardened them all over; but there were others that I would have willingly used the last of my strength in serving; poor and shabby, but kind and humane, with voices that I could trust.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The buyers and sellers, too, many of them, looked not much better off than the poor beasts they were bargaining about.
willinglyadverbUS /ˈwɪlɪŋli/
in a willing manner
From this reading Some of them looked as if poverty and hard times had hardened them all over; but there were others that I would have willingly used the last of my strength in serving; poor and shabby, but kind and humane, with voices that I could trust.
in the company of; together with
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading There were poor old men, trying to get a horse or pony for a few pounds, that might drag about some little wood or coal cart.
worn-outadjective
used until no longer useful
From this reading There were poor men trying to sell a worn-out beast for two or three pounds, rather than have the greater loss of killing him.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading At a sale I found myself in company with a lot of horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.
