used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The scouts were now confronted by conditions calculated to keep them guessing at a lively rate.
alarmingadjectiveUS /əˈlɑːrmɪŋ/
frightening because of an awareness of danger
From this reading With both owners of the ranch away, to whom were they to communicate their alarming news?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The scouts were now confronted by conditions calculated to keep them guessing at a lively rate.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading With both owners of the ranch away, to whom were they to communicate their alarming news?
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading How could they know that in this telling the story, they might not be giving themselves away to one of the suspects?
the two together, not just one
From this reading With both owners of the ranch away, to whom were they to communicate their alarming news?
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The scouts were now confronted by conditions calculated to keep them guessing at a lively rate.
calculatedadjectiveUS /ˈkælkjəleɪtɪd/
carefully thought out in advance
From this reading The scouts were now confronted by conditions calculated to keep them guessing at a lively rate.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading It was a situation calling for considerable head work and reasoning, so that a serious mistake might not be made in the start.
communicateverbUS /kəˈmjuːnəkeɪt/
transmit information
From this reading With both owners of the ranch away, to whom were they to communicate their alarming news?
the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process
From this reading The scouts were now confronted by conditions calculated to keep them guessing at a lively rate.
confrontedverbUS /kənˈfrʌntəd/
past form of “confront” — oppose, as in hostility or a competition
From this reading The scouts were now confronted by conditions calculated to keep them guessing at a lively rate.
large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was a situation calling for considerable head work and reasoning, so that a serious mistake might not be made in the start.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading How could they know that in this telling the story, they might not be giving themselves away to one of the suspects?
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was a situation calling for considerable head work and reasoning, so that a serious mistake might not be made in the start.
the act of giving
From this reading How could they know that in this telling the story, they might not be giving themselves away to one of the suspects?
GOATSnounUS /ɡoʊts/
plural of “goat” — any of numerous agile ruminants related to sheep but having a beard and straight horns
From this reading THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS.
guessingnounUS /ˈɡesɪŋ/
an estimate based on little or no information
From this reading The scouts were now confronted by conditions calculated to keep them guessing at a lively rate.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading It was a situation calling for considerable head work and reasoning, so that a serious mistake might not be made in the start.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How could they know that in this telling the story, they might not be giving themselves away to one of the suspects?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading How could they know that in this telling the story, they might not be giving themselves away to one of the suspects?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a situation calling for considerable head work and reasoning, so that a serious mistake might not be made in the start.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The scouts were now confronted by conditions calculated to keep them guessing at a lively rate.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading How could they know that in this telling the story, they might not be giving themselves away to one of the suspects?
full of life and energy
From this reading The scouts were now confronted by conditions calculated to keep them guessing at a lively rate.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It was a situation calling for considerable head work and reasoning, so that a serious mistake might not be made in the start.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading How could they know that in this telling the story, they might not be giving themselves away to one of the suspects?
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading It was a situation calling for considerable head work and reasoning, so that a serious mistake might not be made in the start.
information about recent and important events
From this reading With both owners of the ranch away, to whom were they to communicate their alarming news?
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading How could they know that in this telling the story, they might not be giving themselves away to one of the suspects?
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The scouts were now confronted by conditions calculated to keep them guessing at a lively rate.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With both owners of the ranch away, to whom were they to communicate their alarming news?
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading How could they know that in this telling the story, they might not be giving themselves away to one of the suspects?
ownersnounUS /ˈoʊnərz/
plural of “owner” — (law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading With both owners of the ranch away, to whom were they to communicate their alarming news?
ranchnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading With both owners of the ranch away, to whom were they to communicate their alarming news?
a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
From this reading The scouts were now confronted by conditions calculated to keep them guessing at a lively rate.
reasoningnounUS /ˈriːzənɪŋ/
thinking that is coherent and logical
From this reading It was a situation calling for considerable head work and reasoning, so that a serious mistake might not be made in the start.
scoutsnounUS /skaʊts/
plural of “scout” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading The scouts were now confronted by conditions calculated to keep them guessing at a lively rate.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading It was a situation calling for considerable head work and reasoning, so that a serious mistake might not be made in the start.
woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat
From this reading THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading It was a situation calling for considerable head work and reasoning, so that a serious mistake might not be made in the start.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was a situation calling for considerable head work and reasoning, so that a serious mistake might not be made in the start.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading It was a situation calling for considerable head work and reasoning, so that a serious mistake might not be made in the start.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading How could they know that in this telling the story, they might not be giving themselves away to one of the suspects?
suspectsnounUS /səˈspekts/
plural of “suspect” — someone who is under suspicion
From this reading How could they know that in this telling the story, they might not be giving themselves away to one of the suspects?
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading How could they know that in this telling the story, they might not be giving themselves away to one of the suspects?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading How could they know that in this telling the story, they might not be giving themselves away to one of the suspects?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading With both owners of the ranch away, to whom were they to communicate their alarming news?
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The scouts were now confronted by conditions calculated to keep them guessing at a lively rate.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading How could they know that in this telling the story, they might not be giving themselves away to one of the suspects?
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With both owners of the ranch away, to whom were they to communicate their alarming news?
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading How could they know that in this telling the story, they might not be giving themselves away to one of the suspects?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The scouts were now confronted by conditions calculated to keep them guessing at a lively rate.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a situation calling for considerable head work and reasoning, so that a serious mistake might not be made in the start.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The scouts were now confronted by conditions calculated to keep them guessing at a lively rate.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading With both owners of the ranch away, to whom were they to communicate their alarming news?
in the company of; together with
From this reading With both owners of the ranch away, to whom were they to communicate their alarming news?
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading It was a situation calling for considerable head work and reasoning, so that a serious mistake might not be made in the start.
